So THAT'S Where My Engine Went | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-05.06.24

Airborne-NextGen-04.30.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.01.24 Airborne-AffordableFlyers--05.02.24

Airborne-Unlimited-05.03.24

Fri, Oct 28, 2005

So THAT'S Where My Engine Went

EAA Member Arrested For Stripping Seneca To Build His Own Plane

It started when Jerry Dwyer's Piper Seneca lost an engine over Iowa. He landed safely at Waterloo Airport and parked the plane -- for five years -- while he looked for a replacement engine.

Last year, Dwyer noticed something... well... odd.

While checking on his 1973 Seneca (file photo of type, above), he noticed an engine and propeller missing (presumably the engine that wasn't blown). Later, he found the aircraft sitting on wooden pallets -- the landing gear was gone. Then the autopilot went missing. Then other components -- seats, radios and the entire instrument panel -- just flat out disappeared.

At some point, Dwyer apparently became suspicious. He called police.

Tuesday, police arrested 48-year old John Nocero of Cedar Falls, IA -- an officer in the EAA's Waterloo chapter -- charging him with first-degree theft. Investigators think Nocero ransacked Dwyer's Seneca and planned to use the parts in the Mustang II he was building.

Nocero is listed on EAA Chapter 227's web site as the chapter's secretary.

Dwyer said his Seneca was severely damaged when the parts were removed. "He chopped a hole in the side of the damn thing to get the autopilot out. He's basically ruined the airplane," Dwyer told the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier.

Court records indicated Nocero admitted stealing Dwyer's landing gear. Nocero couldn't be reached for comment. He was released from the Black Hawk County jail pending trial. If convicted on the first degree theft charge, he could spend the next ten years in prison.

FMI: www.gwu.edu/~action/2004/ia/iacounties/blackhawk.html

Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (05.07.24): Hazardous Weather Information

Hazardous Weather Information Summary of significant meteorological information (SIGMET/WS), convective significant meteorological information (convective SIGMET/WST), urgent pilot>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (05.07.24)

Aero Linx: The T-6 Racing Association The T-6 Racing Association is all about T-6‘s and racing. Our mission is to bring great racing to our fans in Reno and other venues wher>[...]

Airborne 05.01.24: WACO Kitchen, FAA Reauthorization, World Skydiving Day

Also: Electra Aero, AMO-CBP v Smugglers, Naval King Airs, Boeing Deal To the surprise of everyone involved, Waco Kitchen shut down both airport operations with little warning and h>[...]

Airborne Affordable Flyers 05.02.24: Bobby Bailey, SPRG Report Cards, Skydive!

Also: WACO Kitchen Bails, French SportPlane Mfr to FL, Dynon-Advance Flight Systems, Innovation Preview Bobby Bailey, a bit of a fixture in sport aviation circles for his work with>[...]

Airborne 05.03.24: Advanced Powerplant Solutions, PRA Runway Woes, Drone Racing

Also: Virgin Galactic, B-29 Doc to Allentown, Erickson Fire-Fighters Bought, FAA Reauthorization After dealing with a big letdown after the unexpected decision by Skyreach to disco>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC