Zenith 701 N128CF

Summary

On 6 April 2011 at about 00:00 local time, a Zenith 701 registered N128CF, operated by Richards David Stanley III, was involved in an accident near El Centro, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 April 2011 at 00:00

Classification

Accident

Location

El Centro, California, United States

Coordinates

32.7889, -115.5294

Aircraft

Zenith 701

Registration

N128CF

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Richards David Stanley III

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

El Centro → El Centro

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR11LA187

Nobody was injured.

A partial loss of engine power during the initial climb after takeoff due to oil starvation because of the failure of the No. 2 oil pump drive coupling.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, during the initial climb after takeoff, the airplane sustained a partial loss of engine power and that he initiated a forced landing to a wet, muddy, wheat field. During the landing roll, the nosewheel of the airplane dug into the soft terrain and the airplane nosed over. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the No. 2 cylinder and piston exhibited signatures consistent with oil starvation. During disassembly of the engine oil pump system, the No. 1 shaft/bearing assembly for the oil pump system was intact and operational. The No. 2 drive coupling was found damaged, out of alignment, and not functioning. This condition would result in the oil supply system supplying oil at a sporadic rate, below minimal volume and pressure, which would result in oil starvation primarily to the No. 2 cylinder assembly.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.