Collins, NY, USA
N21267
Wheeler Volksplane VP-2
The accident flight was the first flight after the pilot had purchased the airplane. Prior to the flight, the airplane had been inspected by a certified airframe and powerplants mechanic, and onboard it had an estimated 7 to 8 gallons of fuel. About 45 minutes into the flight, while the engine was running at full throttle, it stopped producing power. The airplane was about 3 nautical miles from the airport, and the pilot realized he could not make it back. About 400 feet above the ground the pilot spotted a landing area. With the engine off and the propeller "windmilling", the pilot maneuvered the airplane to avoid trees and power lines. The airplane initially impacted a road, then came to rest in a field. Examination of the Volkswagen engine revealed that one of the coil leads connected to the distributor cap was loose and burnt.
On July 4, 2002, about 0800 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Volksplane VP-2, N21267, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Collins, New York. The certificated private pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. No flight plan had been filed for the local flight, which originated at Ciszak Airport (35NY), Springville, New York. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he had recently purchased the accident airplane, and this was his first flight in it. Prior to the flight, the airplane was inspected by a certificated airframe and powerplants mechanic, and onboard it carried an estimated 7 to 8 gallons of 87-octane gasoline. After startup, the pilot taxied the airplane to get a feel for the controls, and to check engine performance. He then took off and climbed the airplane to a maneuvering altitude, where he practiced stalls and familiarized himself with it's flight characteristics. The pilot stated that about 45 minutes into the flight, while the engine was running at full throttle, it stopped producing power. It did not shudder, vibrate or smoke, and made no strange noises prior to the stoppage. At that time, the airplane was about 3 nautical miles from the airport, and the pilot realized he could not make it back. The airplane was about 400 feet above the ground when the pilot spotted a landing area. With the engine off and the propeller "windmilling", the pilot maneuvered the airplane to avoid trees and power lines. The airplane impacted a road, then came to rest in a field about 50 feet from the road. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, examination of the wreckage revealed crush damage to the right and left wings, and damage to the main landing gear. Inspection of the Volkswagen engine revealed that one of the coil leads connected to the distributor cap was loose and burnt. The pilot did not report any mechanical problems with the airplane prior to the accident flight. Weather, about the time of the accident at an airport about 25 nautical miles to the north, included winds from 230 degrees at 9 knots, scattered clouds at 500 feet, and a visibility of 10 statute miles.
The separation of an ignition lead to the distributor cap, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. Factors in the accident were trees and power lines.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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