Lake County Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lakeview, Oregon 97630
Sunday, August 22, 2010 11:50 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that the preflight run-up was uneventful. Shortly after takeoff, at approximately 150 feet above ground level, the engine suddenly dropped rpm; the pilot verified fuel quantity, and attempted to lean the engine. Despite the pilot’s efforts, the problem persisted, and he initiated a forced landing into a nearby field. During the landing roll, the airplane’s left wing struck a fence post, and its empennage collided with high sage brush. Examination of the engine by a certificated airframe and powerplant (A&P) mechanic revealed low compression within the number three cylinder. Further examination revealed that the exhaust valve was stuck in the full open position. The examination revealed no further anomalies with the cylinder assembly or engine.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A partial loss of engine power during the initial climb due to a stuck exhaust valve.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/22/2010
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1150
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Lakeview
Event State OREGON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 97630
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 420940N
Event Location Longitude 1202356W
Event Location Airport Lake County Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KLKV
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 4733
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1835 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID KLKV
Elevation of weather observation facility 4733
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
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) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 160
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.18
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27727
NTSB Notification Source FAA SEA ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 29 2010 1:53PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N26118
NTSB Number WPR10LA424
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Unknown
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name GRUMMAN AMERICAN AVN. CORP.
Aircraft Model AA-5A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number AA5A0440
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 3
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jan 1 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name NICHOLLS TONY
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City MERIDIAN
Aircraft Owner State ID
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 83646-5273
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name NICHOLLS TONY
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City MERIDIAN
Operator State ID
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 83646-5273
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 KLKV
Departure City Lakeview
Departure State OR
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1150
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code KBNO
Destination City Burns
Destination State OR
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 29 2010 1:49PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 34
Runway Length 5306
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --