Perris Valley Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Perris, California 92570
Monday, April 30, 2007 11:45 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The aircraft collided with trees during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. Approximately 12 nautical miles into the flight, the engine abruptly lost power. The pilot decided that he would attempt to land at a nearby airport but did not have sufficient altitude and the airplane landed 2.51 nautical miles short of the runway. During the engine examination, investigators noted that the cap and harness assembly of the single drive duel magneto was separated from the magneto. Closer examination revealed significant fretting signatures where the cap is seated against the housing of the magneto and was supposed to have been secured by four screws. There were no screws observed or found. There were no impact energy damage signatures on the cap, magneto, ignition harness, or firewall. The pilot stated that he was the last person to have the harness off the magneto.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

a loss of engine power while in cruise flight due to an improperly installed magneto housing by the owner/pilot.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/30/2007
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1145
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Perris
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 92570
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 334525N
Event Location Longitude 1171550W
Event Location Airport PERRIS VALLEY
Event Location Nearest Airport ID L65
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 3
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1155 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 340
Weather Observation Facility ID RIV
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 17
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 15000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Thin Broken
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 340
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.99
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21860
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Apr 30 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 25 2007 12:22PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office AWP- FSDO- Riverside

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N177R
NTSB Number LAX07CA146
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model 177RG
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 177RG0955
Certified Max Gross Weight 2700
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 4603
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Lowell W. Dexter
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Escondido
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 92026
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board --
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code F70
Departure City MURRIETA/TEMECU
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1045
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code FUL
Destination City FULLERTON
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 28 2007 10:51AM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --