Cherry Capital Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Traverse City, Michigan 49684
Tuesady, August 24, 2010 11:10 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported a loss of engine power during cruise flight. He elected to land in the only open space available, which was comprised of rising terrain. During the approach to the field, the left wing dropped and the airplane turned to the left before impact. A postaccident examination of the number one cylinder exhaust port revealed an accumulation of carbon. The number one cylinder’s spark plug could be loosened by hand in indication that it was not properly secured prior to impact; removal of that plug revealed that it exhibited a fouled appearance. The engine's maintenance manual indicated that the spark plugs are to be tightened on a cold engine to 240-inch pounds of torque. The airplane’s airworthiness was maintained by the owner/pilot under a conditional maintenance program.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power due to the improper torquing of the number one cylinder's spark plug as a result of inadequate maintenance.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/24/2010
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1110
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Traverse City
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 49684
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 444140N
Event Location Longitude 0854148W
Event Location Airport Cherry Capital Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TVC
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 624
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1053 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 59
Weather Observation Facility ID TVC
Elevation of weather observation facility 624
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3600
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
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) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
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 KTVC 241453Z 17004KT 10SM BKN036 22/17 A3004
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) 28016
NTSB Notification Source FAA-AGL-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 17 2010 5:26PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N220FF
NTSB Number CEN10LA498
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 FREEMAN
Aircraft Model SUPER KOALA
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 020
Certified Max Gross Weight 830
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Feb 18 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 50
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name LLOYD C. FREEMAN
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City TRAVERSE CITY
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 49684-2138
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name LLOYD C. FREEMAN
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City TRAVERSE CITY
Operator State MI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 49684-2138
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 TVC
Departure City Traverse City
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1050
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code TVC
Destination City Traverse City
Destination State MI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 14 2010 8:13PM
User who most recently changed record male
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --