LIVERMORE, CA, USA
N5001
Curtiss JN-4D
FOLLOWING TAKE OFF FROM A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER AT ABOUT 50 FEET AGL. THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO LOOSE ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED. THE PILOT BEGAN A LEFT TURN TO AN OPEN FIELD. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED IN THE LEFT TURN TOWARD THE PILOTS RESIDENCE. TO AVOID HITTING THE HOUSE, THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY SKIDDED THE AIRPLANE TO THE LEFT, STRIKING THE GROUND IN FRONT OF THE RESIDENCE. AN EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED TWO BOLTS THAT RETAIN THE ROCKER ARM SUPPORT PEDESTAL AND ENGINE COOLANT HOUSING HAD SHEARED. ENGINE COOLANT SPRAYED ONTO THE RIGHT SIDE SPARK PLUG LEADS AND RIGHT SIDE OF THE AIRPLANE.
THE SHEARING OF THE NUMBER 8 CYLINDER ROCKER ARM SUPPORT PEDESTAL/COOLANT HOUSING RETAINING BOLTS. CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT WAS A LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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