De Havilland VAMPIRE MK-3 N6878D

Summary

On 6 June 2009 at about 19:25 local time, a De Havilland VAMPIRE MK-3 registered N6878D, operated by Wings of Flight, was involved in an accident near Rochester, New York, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 June 2009 at 19:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Rochester, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Rochester Intl Airport (ROC)

Coordinates

43.1186, -77.6722

Aircraft

De Havilland VAMPIRE MK-3

Registration

N6878D

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Wings of Flight

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rochester → Batavia

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09LA324

1 person was seriously injured.

A loss of engine power due to oil starvation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

While en-route to his destination, as the airplane climbed through 3,500 feet, the pilot heard a noise coming from the engine and initiated a return to his departure airport. The noise "got louder," and the pilot felt the airplane vibrate during the return. While on final approach for the runway, the engine lost total power. The pilot then retracted the landing gear and prepared for a forced landing to the grass adjacent to the runway. During the landing, the airplane struck a berm, substantially damaging the fuselage. Examination of the engine revealed the oil quantity in the oil sump was less than 2 tablespoons, and no oil was observed in the surrounding area of the engine compartment. The rear bearing in the "hot section" of the turbojet engine exhibited significant scoring, metal fatigue, and erosion. The bearing was completely fused and unable to be rotated.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.