Casualties unknown

2006-11-05: Luscombe 8F (N26324) — Wellsville, KS

Wellsville, KS, US

On November 5, 2006, a Luscombe 8F (registration N26324) was involved in an aviation accident near Wellsville, KS. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A loss of engine power due to the ingestion of the number 2 intake valve into its cylinder. Contributing factors included the pilot allowing the airspeed and altitude to drop, making a safe landing not possible. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.

Sourcesthe U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archivePrimary reportUpdated 1781061362Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot experienced a loud bang and engine power loss 10 minutes into flight, leading to a tree strike during an attempted emergency landing in a bean field. Disassembly revealed a swallowed intake valve.

Incident Overview

Approximately 10 minutes after takeoff, the pilot heard a loud "bang" from the engine, which subsequently lost power. The airplane began to vibrate, prompting the pilot to secure the engine by shutting off the fuel supply. An emergency was declared, and the pilot attempted to land in a bean field. However, due to insufficient speed and altitude, the airplane was unable to clear a tree line and struck the trees.

Post-accident Examination

Following the accident, the engine was disassembled. The examination revealed that the number 2 intake valve had been completely "swallowed" into the cylinder. The engine had accrued 1,700.49 hours since its last overhaul. The rated time-between-overhaul (TBO) for the Continental C-90-12F engine is 1,800 hours.

Investigation Findings

The investigation did not specify a probable cause. The engine failure was attributed to the intake valve being ingested into the cylinder, which led to the loss of power. No other factors were identified in the provided source.

Investigation report by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive. Original record: https://carol.ntsb.gov/event/20061106X01613. This page is a structured re-presentation; facts and quotes are in the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), United States.