Rochester Intl Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Rochester, New York 14624
Saturday, June 6, 2009 15:25 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While en-route to his destination, as the airplane climbed through 3,500 feet, the pilot heard a noise coming from the engine and initiated a return to his departure airport. The noise "got louder," and the pilot felt the airplane vibrate during the return. While on final approach for the runway, the engine lost total power. The pilot then retracted the landing gear and prepared for a forced landing to the grass adjacent to the runway. During the landing, the airplane struck a berm, substantially damaging the fuselage. Examination of the engine revealed the oil quantity in the oil sump was less than 2 tablespoons, and no oil was observed in the surrounding area of the engine compartment. The rear bearing in the "hot section" of the turbojet engine exhibited significant scoring, metal fatigue, and erosion. The bearing was completely fused and unable to be rotated.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power due to oil starvation.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/6/2009
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1525
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Rochester
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 14624
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 430707N
Event Location Longitude 0774020W
Event Location Airport Rochester Intl Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID ROC
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 559
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1454 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID ROC
Elevation of weather observation facility 559
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 25000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 6000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 11
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 350
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.94
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27253
NTSB Notification Source FAA Eastern Region ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 14 2010 12:19PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6878D
NTSB Number ERA09LA324
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 DE HAVILLAND
Aircraft Model Vampire MK-3
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 17072
Certified Max Gross Weight 10000
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection May 17 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 629
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Wings of Flight
Aircraft Owner Street Address 16 West Main St. Suite 204
Aircraft Owner City Rochester
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 14614
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Wings of Flight
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Batavia
Operator State NY
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 14020
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code ROC
Departure City Rochester
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1520
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code GVQ
Destination City Batavia
Destination State NY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 29 2010 1:50PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --