N/A Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Elverta, California 95626
Tuesady, September 25, 2012 9:15 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On September 25, 2012, about 0915 Pacific daylight time, an experimental McCleery-Rans S6ES airplane, N623LB sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing near Elverta, California. The student pilot and Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE) conducting the check ride were not injured. The airplane was registered to the pilot, and operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) practical test exam flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that originated from Elverta shortly before the accident. The accident occurred during the student pilot's practical test for a Sport Pilot certificate. The student pilot reported that he demonstrated a soft-field takeoff with 2 notches of flaps; as the airplane accelerated in ground effect to approximately 55 mph he transitioned to a climb. As the airplane climbed, about 100 feet above ground level (agl), the engine lost power and the pilot began an emergency descent to a nearby open field. He reported that the airplane touched down on the main wheels with the nose wheel off the ground; however, during the rollout in the open field the airplane collided with a dirt berm and subsequently nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wing lift struts and fuselage. The experimental two-place high wing airplane was equipped with a Rotax 582 two-stroke, two-cylinder reciprocating engine rated at 65 horsepower. Postaccident airframe and engine examination by representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration and Rotax revealed the following findings: Aft (MAG) Piston and Cylinder Assembly The MAG piston was in place in the cylinder and remained attached to its associated connecting rod. The top MAG piston ring was missing and damage was noted to the associated ring land groove and piston. The lower piston ring was in place; however, the piston ring was distorted and jammed in its corresponding ring land groove. Mechanical type damage was noted to the internal cylinder dome of the cylinder head. The damage was consistent with pieces of the broken piston ring contacting the cylinder dome. Forward (PTO) Piston and Cylinder Assembly The PTO piston was in place in the cylinder and remained attached to its associated connecting rod. Both the upper and lower piston rings were in place and seated in their respective ring land grooves. Mechanical type damage was noted to the internal cylinder dome and piston face. The damage was consistent with pieces of the broken piston ring contacting the cylinder dome and piston face. Postaccident review of the airplane's maintenance records showed multiple entries that outlined repairs to both the MAG and PTO cylinder assemblies. In 2010 (specific date not legible) at 401 hours total time since new (TTSN) the MAG piston and ring assembly were replaced due to a cracked ring. An entry dated September 4, 2011 (at 530 hours TTSN) indicated that the "top end" was reconditioned and new "rings" were installed. An entry dated November 05, 2011 (542 hours TTSN) indicted that the PTO and MAG rings were replaced and the cylinders were resurfaced due to "overheat damage."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/25/2012
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 915
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Elverta
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 95626
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 381652N
Event Location Longitude 1212860W
Event Location Airport N/A
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
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 --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
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) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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) --
NTSB Notification Source 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 Nov 14 2014 8:44PM
User who most recently changed record hogd
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N623LB
NTSB Number WPR12LA437
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MCCLEERY
Aircraft Model RANS S6ES
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 07011418ES
Certified Max Gross Weight 1030
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats 1
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 1
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 5 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 52
Airframe Hours 594
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name GALLAGHER JOHN P
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City ROSEVILLE
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95747-8378
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name GALLAGHER JOHN P
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City ROSEVILLE
Operator State CA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 95747-8378
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code NA
Departure City Elverta
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 915
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code NA
Destination City Elverta
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 17 2014 2:46PM
User who most recently changed record eckd
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 --