Rising Oil Temps Signaled Trouble

The decision to try and make an airport, over a precautionary landing, off-airport, can be a tough one... and often one that really can't be second-guessed unless you were in the cockpit in question. Unfortunately... the few minutes the pilot needed his engine to hang tough to make the airport didn't happen and a forced landing went badly...

Luscombe 8A--File Photo

NTSB Identification: ERA12FA017
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, October 08, 2011 in Dixie, GA
Aircraft: LUSCOMBE 8A, registration: N41907
Injuries: 1 Fatal,1 Serious.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On October 8, 2010, about 1450 eastern daylight time, a Luscombe 8A, N41907, incurred substantial damage when it impacted trees following a total loss of engine power near Dixie, Georgia. The pilot received serious injuries and the passenger was killed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91, personal flight. The flight originated from the Thomasville Regional Airport (TVI), Thomasville, Georgia, earlier that day, about 1420.

The pilot stated that he and his passenger departed from Flying Harness Farms Airport (37FL), Bell, Florida, at about 0830, for the TVI fly-in. The flight was unremarkable. He checked the weather and noted that unfavorable conditions were going to develop and decided to depart TVI early. The planned return flight to 37FL departed around 1420. About 20 minutes later, while cruising at 1500 feet above ground level (agl), he noted the engine oil temperature was rising. Once the engine temperature past the 200 degree point, he checked with the onboard GPS for the nearest airport to land. He reduced engine power to curtail the rising oil temperature. He noted the engine oil temperature continued to rise and reached 240 degrees. He recalled telling his passenger that they may have to do a force landing. When they where about 4 miles from the Jefferson Landing Airport (74FL), the engine started knocking and failed. He lined up with an open field that he saw below. Upon approach to the field, the airplane had too much energy and impacted trees at the edge of a tree line.

The airplane’s right wing separated from the fuselage, ripping open the cockpit roof section. The right side of the fuselage impacted the ground. The left wing buckled at the wing root to fuselage section and bent forward, coming to rest parallel and on top of the left side of the fuselage. The main wreckage came to rest about 30 feet forward of the impacted trees.

A post recovery examination of the engine by NTSB showed a 6 inch diameter section from the top crankcase flange area, between the number 2 and 1 cylinder, had separated exposing the piston rods and crankshaft section. Several engine components were retained by NTSB for further examination.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov