Calvada Meadows Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Pahrump, Nevada 89048
Friday, September 18, 2009 9:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During cruise flight the engine lost all power. The pilot did not have enough time and altitude to perform an engine restart, and during the subsequent forced landing, the airplane nosed over. The airplane was equipped with an automotive engine converted for aviation use. Post accident examination revealed that the engine's only magneto had failed after its rotor was damaged by a loose high tension lead attachment screw. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and vertical stabilizer during the accident sequence.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to a failure of the engine's sole magneto.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/18/2009
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 915
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Pahrump
Event State NEVADA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 89048
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 361616n
Event Location Longitude 1155942w
Event Location Airport Calvada Meadows Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NV74
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 4
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 2726
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 853 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 350
Weather Observation Facility ID NV65
Elevation of weather observation facility 3314
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 21
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.04
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) 26371
NTSB Notification Source WPR FAA ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 20 2010 2:20PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N124LH
NTSB Number WPR09LA454
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 Lewis Jennings
Aircraft Model NIEUPORT 11
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 443
Certified Max Gross Weight 930
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 41
Airframe Hours 41
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name LEWIS JENNINGS
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City PAHRUMP
Aircraft Owner State NV
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 89060-1834
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name LEWIS JENNINGS
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City PAHRUMP
Operator State NV
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 89060-1834
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 No
Departure Airport Code NV74
Departure City Pahrump
Departure State NV
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 835
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code NV74
Destination City Pahrump
Destination State NV
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 1 2009 4:19PM
User who most recently changed record coos
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 33
Runway Length 5200
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --