Yates LANCAIR IV-P N441L

Summary

On 18 June 2008 at about 17:10 local time, a Yates LANCAIR IV-P registered N441L, operated by Dan C Hutson II, was involved in an accident near Springfield, Kentucky, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 June 2008 at 17:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Springfield, Kentucky, United States

Nearest airport

Lebanon-Springfield Airport (6I2)

Coordinates

37.6333, -85.2383

Aircraft

Yates LANCAIR IV-P

Registration

N441L

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Dan C Hutson II

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lexington → Murry

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA08FA122

1 person died.

A total loss of engine power due to a loss of engine oil as a result of the installation of the wrong oil adapter O-ring seal.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Shortly after takeoff, the pilot radioed air traffic control to report that he was losing engine oil pressure and that his windscreen was covered with oil. He was advised that he was 4 miles from the nearest suitable airport. Air traffic control lost radar and communications with the pilot and the airplane crashed at the approach end of a runway at the airport. Visual examination of the engine revealed that the No. 2 connecting rod penetrated through the top of the aft section of the engine case. Examination of the accessory case revealed that a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SE5743NM Aviation Development Corporation oil filter adapter was attached to the accessory oil filter adapter fitting. A visual inspection of the oil filter adapter revealed that the O-ring between the mating surfaces was extruding 3/4 inch. Visual inspection of the O-ring revealed that it was leaking oil for an undetermined amount of time and was dry rotted and brittle. Review of the STC revealed that the O-ring was the incorrect part that was installed on the engine. A review of the engine and airframe logbooks did not reveal when the installation of the improper O-ring was performed. The engine had accumulated about 351 hours of operation since manufacture.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.