TANGERINE, FL, USA
N735BS
William John Schulz WJS JAYBIRD
The pilot stated he was enroute to Mid Florida Airport, Eustis, Florida, when a partial power loss and the inability to hold altitude necessitated a precautionary landing. The pilot said he executed a landing with a left quartering tailwind due to utility lines and trees blocking an approach into the wind. The aircraft bounced, and on the second bounce the right landing gear bent and the wind lifted the left wing. The aircraft slid, and slowly nosed over, coming to rest upside down, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. According to the pilot, the reason for engine power loss was due to insufficient torque on the jam nut exhaust valve adjuster (rocker arm) to number 4 cylinder.
On August 10, 1999, about 1420 eastern daylight time, a William John Schulz WJS Jaybird, N735BS, registered to a private owner, operated as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed while attempting a precautionary landing in an open field in Tangerine, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the private-rated pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Bob White Field, Zellwood, Florida, about 1400, the same day. The pilot stated that he was en route to Mid Florida Airport, Eustis, Florida, when a partial power loss and the inability to hold altitude necessitated a precautionary landing on a mowed lawn. The pilot said he executed a landing with a left quartering tailwind, due to utility lines and trees blocking an approach into the wind. The aircraft bounced, and on the second bounce the right landing gear bent and the wind lifted the left wing. The aircraft slid, and slowly nosed over, coming to rest upside down. The pilot further stated that the reason for engine power loss was due to his improper maintenance/installation by not having sufficient torque on the jam nut exhaust valve adjuster (rocker arm) to number 4 cylinder.
the pilot's improper torqueing of a rocker arm adjusting jam nut, that resulted in the adjuster loosening, and a partial loss of engine power. This resulted in the pilot making an off airport precautionary landing and subsequent nose over, during which the aircraft received substantial damage.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
Aviation Accidents App
In-Depth Access to Aviation Accident Reports
