WILKSVILLE, OH, USA
N9601
DEVENPORT EAA BIPLANE
THE PILOT WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT, IN AN EXPERIMENTALLY CERTIFIED AIRPLANE, WHEN THE CRANKCASE BREATHER WHICH WAS NOT PRESSURIZED WITH A WHISTLE SLOT FROZE UP. THE CRANKCASE PRESSURIZED AND THE CRANKCASE SEAL WAS DISLODGED. THE PILOT MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A FIELD OF LIMITED SIZE, SURROUNDED BY TREES. DUE TO THE RESTRICTED VIIBILITY OF THE PILOT, WITH OIL ON HIS GOGGLES AND WINDSHIELD, HE STRUCK A TREE ON FINAL AND MADE AN UNCONTROLLED TOUCHDOWN IN THE FIELD. THE INVESTIGATION REVEALED THERE IS A REQUIREMENT OF A WHISTLE SLOT ON NORMAL, UTILITY, ACROBATIC, AND COMMUTER CATEGORY AIRPLANES, HOWEVER, THIS REQUIREMENT DOES NOT EXIST FOR EXPERIMENTAL CATEGORY AIRPLANES.
THE RESTRICTED VISIBILITY OF THE PILOT DUE TO OIL ON THE WINDSHIELD AND HIS GOGGLES, WHICH RESULTED IN A TREE STRIKE AND UNCONTROLLED TOUCHDOWN, DURING THE EXECUTION OF A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE A CLOGGED CRANKCASE BREATHER TUBE, THE LACK OF A WHISTLE SLOT ON THE CRANKCASE BREATHER TUBE, AND THE TREES.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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