Hiserts Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Palatine, New York 13428
Wednesday, October 16, 2013 17:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that the noncertificated engine in his experimental, amateur-built airplane had been indicating low or no oil pressure. He returned the engine to the manufacturer and received an overhauled engine, which he operated for about 30 hours uneventfully. On the day before the accident, the pilot performed a routine 25-hour oil change and valve adjustment and noted no anomalies. On the day of the accident, the pilot departed a grass airstrip for a local flight with 8 gallons of fuel. He overflew the airstrip once and then performed an approach with the intention to land; however, the airplane was too high, so the pilot performed a go-around. During the go-around, the pilot heard two “pops,” and the engine lost total power. The propeller did not windmill and came to a complete stop. The airplane was at a low altitude, and the pilot chose to land in a cornfield rather than try to turn back to the runway. During the landing, the right main landing gear lodged in mud, and the airplane nosed over. During a test run, the pilot was able to rotate the propeller and get compression on all four cylinders. He then started the engine, and it ran without hesitation. After shutdown, the pilot removed all of the cylinders and did not observe any preimpact mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The weather conditions were conducive to the accumulation of serious carburetor icing at cruise power. However, the engine was equipped with a flatslide aerobatic carburetor, which was not susceptible to carburetor ice due to the location that it was mounted to the engine. The reason for the engine power loss could not be determined.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because a test run and partial teardown of the engine did not reveal any anomalies.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/16/2013
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Palatine
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 13428
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 425860N
Event Location Longitude 0743100W
Event Location Airport Hiserts Airpark
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 3NY7
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 225
Airport Elevation 813
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1753 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 120
Weather Observation Facility ID SCH
Elevation of weather observation facility 378
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 20
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 10000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
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) 16
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 180
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.93
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 32929
NTSB Notification Source FAA Eastern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 17 2014 11:32AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N68VF
NTSB Number ERA14LA018
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 FULLER VAN L
Aircraft Model SONEX
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 68
Certified Max Gross Weight 1100
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 Jun 20 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 30
Airframe Hours 177
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name CLUKEY MICHAEL J
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City JOHNSTOWN
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 120951132
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name CLUKEY MICHAEL J
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City JOHNSTOWN
Operator State NY
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 120951132
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 3NY7
Departure City Palatine
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1700
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 3NY7
Destination City Palatine
Destination State NY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 17 2014 11:32AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 2200
Runway Width 40
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --