Fuller van L SONEX N68VF

Summary

On 16 October 2013 at about 21:30 local time, a Fuller van L SONEX registered N68VF, operated by Clukey Michael J, was involved in an accident near Palatine, New York, United States. One person was 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

16 October 2013 at 21:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Palatine, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Hiserts Airpark (3NY7)

Coordinates

42.9833, -74.5167

Aircraft

Fuller van L SONEX

Registration

N68VF

Category

Airplane

Year built

2001

Engines

1

Operator

Clukey Michael J

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Palatine → Palatine

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA14LA018

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because a test run and partial teardown of the engine did not reveal any anomalies.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that the noncertificated engine in his experimental, amateur-built airplane had been indicating low or no oil pressure. He returned the engine to the manufacturer and received an overhauled engine, which he operated for about 30 hours uneventfully. On the day before the accident, the pilot performed a routine 25-hour oil change and valve adjustment and noted no anomalies. On the day of the accident, the pilot departed a grass airstrip for a local flight with 8 gallons of fuel. He overflew the airstrip once and then performed an approach with the intention to land; however, the airplane was too high, so the pilot performed a go-around. During the go-around, the pilot heard two "pops," and the engine lost total power. The propeller did not windmill and came to a complete stop. The airplane was at a low altitude, and the pilot chose to land in a cornfield rather than try to turn back to the runway. During the landing, the right main landing gear lodged in mud, and the airplane nosed over. During a test run, the pilot was able to rotate the propeller and get compression on all four cylinders. He then started the engine, and it ran without hesitation. After shutdown, the pilot removed all of the cylinders and did not observe any preimpact mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The weather conditions were conducive to the accumulation of serious carburetor icing at cruise power. However, the engine was equipped with a flatslide aerobatic carburetor, which was not susceptible to carburetor ice due to the location that it was mounted to the engine. The reason for the engine power loss could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.