On September 22, 2004, a Boeing A75N (PT17) (registration N57003) was involved in an aviation accident near Bayport, NY. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The failure of the engine's right magneto to produce spark, which resulted in a loss of engine power during takeoff. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A light aircraft lost power shortly after takeoff due to a magneto failure, striking trees and a house before crashing inverted.
What happened
The pilot initiated takeoff with an approximately 10-knot right quartering tailwind. Shortly after becoming airborne, at an altitude of about 300 feet, the engine—which was operating at full power—experienced a sudden loss of 300 to 400 revolutions per minute. The aircraft immediately began to veer to the left. It subsequently struck a tree and a telephone pole, followed by the roof of a nearby house, before coming to rest inverted in the front yard.
The investigation
A post-accident examination of the airframe and propulsion system was conducted to determine the cause of the power loss. The inspection revealed that the engine's right magneto was unable to produce a spark, indicating a mechanical failure within that ignition component.
Findings
The critical factor in this accident was the engine's right magneto failing to fire. This malfunction caused a significant reduction in engine power during the most critical phase of flight, leaving insufficient altitude and airspeed to recover. The presence of a quartering tailwind may have contributed to the aircraft's handling characteristics immediately following the power loss.
Probable cause
The failure of the engine's right magneto to produce spark, which resulted in a loss of engine power during takeoff.