Wakefield, VA, USA
N59486
Roger A Dalke E.B. Jenny
The pilot stated that after takeoff, he climbed to an altitude of 1,000 feet, and as he scanned the airplane's gauges, he noticed that the engine outlet coolant temperature had climbed to the red line (220 degrees F). He said he then checked the engine inlet coolant temperature and he noticed that it was still in the green (180 degrees F), and then checked the oil temperature and noticed that it was normal. As he continued the flight he said that he watched the gauges more closely and a few minutes later the inlet coolant temperature began to climb to the red line, while the coolant outlet temperature dropped to zero. He said that at that point he knew he was in trouble, and in an attempt not to experience a total engine failure he made a precautionary landing to a cotton field. He said the cotton plants were high and during the landing the airplane flipped over on its back, and stopped in a distance of less than 200 feet. The pilot said that at no time did the engine cease operating. An FAA inspector conducted a postcrash examination of the airframe, the engine and accessories, and the examination revealed that the radiator had incurred no accident related damage, however, there was a leak at the soldered radiator drain fitting.
On August 11, 2007, about 1005 eastern daylight time, a Roger A. Dalke, model E.B. Jenny experimental amateur built airplane, N59486, registered to, and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed shortly after takeoff in Wakefield, Virginia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The airline transport-rated pilot received minor injuries, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated in Wakefield, Virginia, the same day, about 1000. The pilot stated that after takeoff, he climbed to an altitude of 1,000 feet, and as he scanned the airplane's gauges, he noticed that the engine outlet coolant temperature had climbed to the red line (220 degrees F). He said he then checked the engine inlet coolant temperature and he noticed that it was still in the green (180 degrees F), and then checked the oil temperature and noticed that it was normal. As he continued the flight he said watched the gauges more closely and a few minutes later the inlet coolant temperature began to climb to red line, while the coolant outlet temperature dropped to zero. He said that at that point he knew he was in trouble, and began to look for a location to land. He throttled back to half power, hoping to avoid a total engine power stoppage, and chose a cotton field to make an emergency landing. The cotton was tall in the field and as he was affecting the precautionary landing the airplane flipped over on its back, and stopped in a distance of less than 200 feet from its first contact with the cotton. The pilot said that at no time did the engine cease operating. An FAA inspector conducted a postcrash examination of the airframe, the engine and accessories, and the examination revealed that the radiator had incurred no accident related damage, however there was a leak at the soldered radiator drain fitting.
The pilot/owner's inadequate maintenance which resulted in a radiator leak, a loss of engine coolant, the engine overheating, and partial loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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