Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR N503RK
21 May 2022 · Lancaster, Ohio, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 21 May 2022 at about 17:53 local time, a Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR registered N503RK was involved in an accident near Lancaster, Ohio, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 17:53
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Lancaster, Ohio, United States
- Nearest airport
- Fairfield County Airport (LHQ)
- Coordinates
- 39.7085, -82.6039
- Aircraft
- Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR
- Registration
- N503RK
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2006
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Lancaster → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ERA22LA241
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The improper installation and subsequent failure of the pushrod O-rings, which resulted in failure of the No. 4 connecting rod due to oil starvation.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot observed a reduction in engine power shortly after takeoff. While attempting to return to the airport, the engine lost power completely while on the downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern, after which the pilot performed an off-airport landing. The airplane’s fuselage and horizontal stabilizer were substantially damaged during the landing. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the pushrod O-rings had been incorrectly installed. This improper installation led to the disintegration of the O-rings, and the resulting debris to blocked the oil ports to the No. 4 connecting rod bearing. The lack of oil to the bearing resulted in the failure of the connecting rod, and the subsequent total loss of engine power. The airplane’s maintenance logbooks did not document any recent engine maintenance that would have required removing the engine’s cylinder heads. The cylinders were removed and reinstalled following repair nearly 9 years, and about 58 tachometer hours, before the accident. Based on available information, it is likely that the O-rings were improperly installed during this maintenance.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Sep 2016 | Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR | Delaware, Ohio, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 5 Jul 2015 | Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR SL | Montgomery, New York, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 26 Jul 2015 | Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR | Eufaula, Alabama, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 28 Apr 2014 | Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR PLUS | Monterey, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Sep 2014 | Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR | Newark, Illinois, United States | Ryan Boston | Serious injuries | - |
| 20 Mar 2014 | Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR | Porterville, California, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 21 Jul 2022 | Bell 206B | Kenton, Ohio, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Jul 2022 | Cessna 152 | Hillsboro, Ohio, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 1 Sep 2022 | Aeronca 7AC | Marysville, Ohio, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 13 Jun 2022 | Cessna 172 | Bluffton, Ohio, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 26 Jul 2022 | Eurocopter AS365 | Hamilton, Ohio, United States | Air Methods Corp | Minor injuries | - |
| 3 Sep 2022 | Piper PA28 | Wadsworth, Ohio, United States | - | No injuries | - |