Accident Summary
On July 19, 2023, at about 0615 central daylight time, a Pietenpol Aircamper, registration N34KP, was substantially damaged during an accident near Gardner, Kansas. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, received minor injuries. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight.
Engine Failure and Forced Landing
The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, the engine began "missing" on one cylinder. He reversed course toward Gardner Municipal Airport (K34). Initially, the aircraft maintained altitude, but as it neared the airport, it started to descend. The engine then ran rough and lost all power. The pilot executed a forced landing to a construction site, where the airplane nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage.
Witness Observation
A witness reported hearing the engine "cutting out" as the airplane descended and then observed it nose over after landing.
Postaccident Examination
The aircraft was equipped with an in-line, four-cylinder, liquid-cooled Ford Model A engine and an owner-fabricated electronic ignition system. Examination of the engine revealed that the No. 3 cylinder spark plug did not produce spark when tested with a Champion spark plug service unit cleaner and tester. The spark plug's firing end had hard cinder-like deposits consistent with lead fouling per the Champion Aviation Service Manual AV6-R. After cleaning the deposits, the spark plug functioned normally. The other three spark plugs had various degrees of lead deposits but functioned when tested.
Additional Details
The pilot reported using 100LL aviation fuel. Engine logbooks indicated the spark plugs were replaced during the last condition inspection and had accrued about 18.7 hours of service. No other preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation.