CARO, MI, USA
N14U
LUCKEY DRAGONFLY II
The pilot of a home built airplane said his engine began running rough during cruise flight. The pilot said he reduced power and diverted to a nearby airport to make a precautionary landing. The pilot said he mistook a road for the airport runway. During the approach to the road the pilot said he had to add power to clear electrical power lines. He said the engine ran rougher when he applied the power. Shortly after applying the power, the propeller and front section of the crankshaft departed the engine. The airplane landed on a road and ran off the end into a corn field. The fracture surface of the crankshaft was a dull gray color with a rough surface texture. The edge of the fracture surface had shear lips.
On July 26, 1998, at 1145 eastern daylight time, a Luckey-Dragonfly MK I, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during a collision with rough terrain and mature corn after departing the edge of a road following a forced landing due to a total loss of power. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight had departed Bellaire, Michigan, exact time unknown. The pilot reported the engine began running rough during cruise flight. He said he reduced the power setting and diverted to a nearby airport with the intent of making a precautionary landing. The pilot said he mistook a road for the runway. During the approach to the road the pilot said he had to add power to clear electrical power lines. He said the engine ran rougher and the crankshaft failed. The propeller, and section of the crankshaft it was attached to, departed the airplane and landed in a cornfield next to the road. The on-scene investigation confirmed the pilot's statement. The Federal Aviation Administration Principal Maintenance Inspector reported the fracture surface of the crankshaft had a dull gray color and grainy surface appearance. He said the edges of the fracture had shear lips.
an improper inflight decision when he mistook the road for the runway of the nearby airport to land on. A factor in this accident was the total failure of the engine's crankshaft.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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