History of Flight
On September 8, 2012, at approximately 1215 Pacific daylight time, an Aviat Aircraft, Inc., A-1B (N395AA) experienced a loss of engine power shortly after taking off from a lake. The pilot executed a forced landing into an orchard near Durham, California. The commercial pilot and one passenger received minor injuries. The aircraft sustained substantial damage in a postcrash fire. The personal flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed.
According to the pilot's written statement, the engine start and run-up were normal. Shortly after takeoff, he heard a "pop" sound, followed by a loss of engine power. He continued straight ahead, and the airplane impacted in an orchard adjacent to the lake. After impact, a fire began, and the pilot and passenger evacuated the airplane.
Personnel Information
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records indicated that the pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single- and multi-engine land, single-engine sea, and instrument airplane. The pilot reported approximately 1,325 total flight hours, including about 133 hours in the accident airplane make and model. His most recent flight review was completed in December 2011, and his most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued in March 2011.
Aircraft Information
FAA records indicated that the airplane was manufactured in 2007 and equipped with a Lycoming O-360 series engine. The pilot reported that the aircraft had accumulated 292 hours in service at the time of its most recent annual inspection, which was completed in January 2012.
Meteorological Information
The pilot reported that skies were clear, winds were light and variable, and visibility was 25 miles. The 1154 automated weather observation at Chico Municipal Airport (CIC), about 7.3 miles north-northwest of the accident location, included wind from 220 degrees at 5 knots, visibility 25 miles, few clouds at 5,000 and 15,000 feet, temperature 28°C, dew point 11°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.98 inches of mercury.
Airport Information
The departure lake was a man-made body of water measuring approximately 2,100 by 200 feet, with the long axis oriented east-west. Its elevation was about 200 feet above mean sea level. The lake was located about 7.3 miles on a true heading of 154 degrees from Chico Municipal Airport.
Tests and Research
Examination of the recovered airframe and engine was conducted on September 28, 2012, at the facilities of Plain Parts, Pleasant Grove, California. No evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction was noted during examination.
The airplane was a fabric-covered Aviat Aircraft, Inc., Model A-1B, serial number 2395; the fabric had been consumed in the postcrash fire, but the frame remained. Flight control continuity was established through all primary flight control surfaces by tracing cables from the cockpit to the tail section and wings.
The engine was a four-cylinder Lycoming O-360-A1B, serial number L-40758-36E, remaining attached to the airframe via engine mounts. The propeller assembly remained attached. The entire engine had sustained varying degrees of thermal damage from the postcrash fire. Manual rotation of the engine produced mechanical and drive train continuity, and thumb compression was obtained at all cylinders. Both magnetos remained attached but sustained thermal damage and were not tested. The P-leads remained attached but also sustained thermal damage. According to the Champion Aviation check-a-plug chart AV-27, the spark plug electrodes exhibited a worn-out normal condition.