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Pilot of hurricane ultralight experimental aircraft has engine seize just after takeoff at 500 ft. Emergency landing results.
| Attributes | |
| ACN | 406263 |
| Time | |
| Date | 199806 |
| Day | Sat |
| Local Time Of Day | 1201 To 1800 |
| Place | |
| Locale Reference | airport : l66 |
| State Reference | CA |
| Altitude | agl bound lower : 500 agl bound upper : 500 |
| Environment | |
| Flight Conditions | VMC |
| Light | Daylight |
| Aircraft 1 | |
| Controlling Facilities | tower : las |
| Operator | general aviation : personal |
| Make Model Name | Ultralight |
| Operating Under FAR Part | Part 91 |
| Flight Phase | climbout : takeoff other |
| Flight Plan | None |
| Person 1 | |
| Affiliation | Other |
| Function | flight crew : single pilot |
| Qualification | pilot : private |
| Experience | flight time last 90 days : 42 flight time total : 2600 flight time type : 1200 |
| ASRS Report | 406263 |
| Events | |
| Anomaly | aircraft equipment problem : critical |
| Independent Detector | aircraft equipment other aircraft equipment : unspecified |
| Resolutory Action | flight crew : declared emergency other |
| Consequence | Other |
| Supplementary | |
| Primary Problem | Aircraft |
Narrative:
Flying an experimental aircraft (ultralight type) on climb out at about 500 ft AGL (1000 ft MSL) from L66, I experienced an engine seizure (rotax 618 water cooled). This required an emergency landing in a nearby field. There were no injuries and no property damage. The cause of the engine seizure appears to be a rear cylinder ring failure. After the accident, the rear cylinder compression was only 60 psi compared to the normal front cylinder compression of 135 psi. The engine had slightly over 300 hours since new and showed no pre- seizure signs of trouble. Egt's and water temperature were normal up to the moment of the seizure.
Original NASA ASRS Text
Title: PLT OF HURRICANE ULTRALIGHT EXPERIMENTAL ACFT HAS ENG SEIZE JUST AFTER TKOF AT 500 FT. EMER LNDG RESULTS.
Narrative: FLYING AN EXPERIMENTAL ACFT (ULTRALIGHT TYPE) ON CLBOUT AT ABOUT 500 FT AGL (1000 FT MSL) FROM L66, I EXPERIENCED AN ENG SEIZURE (ROTAX 618 WATER COOLED). THIS REQUIRED AN EMER LNDG IN A NEARBY FIELD. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND NO PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE CAUSE OF THE ENG SEIZURE APPEARS TO BE A REAR CYLINDER RING FAILURE. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, THE REAR CYLINDER COMPRESSION WAS ONLY 60 PSI COMPARED TO THE NORMAL FRONT CYLINDER COMPRESSION OF 135 PSI. THE ENG HAD SLIGHTLY OVER 300 HRS SINCE NEW AND SHOWED NO PRE- SEIZURE SIGNS OF TROUBLE. EGT'S AND WATER TEMP WERE NORMAL UP TO THE MOMENT OF THE SEIZURE.
Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.