Scaled Composites 158-8 accident near Lemmon Valley, NV
On September 14, 1993, a Scaled Composites 158-8 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Lemmon Valley, NV. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- September 14, 1993
- Place
- Lemmon Valley, NV
- Aircraft
- Scaled Composites 158-8 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.710°N, 119.819°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001211X13415
NTSB summary
On September 14, 1993, at 1642 hours Pacific daylight time, an experimental Pond Racer airplane, N221BP, operated by Bob Pond Racing, Inc., was destroyed during an off airport emergency landing at Lemmon Valley, Nevada. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the race qualification flight. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The pilot had just requested the timing clock between pylons number five and six when he abruptly initiated a pull up and stated that he was leaving the course. He then advised his pit crew that he had a little problem with the right engine. The tower advised the pilot that he was trailing smoke. As the pilot was maneuvering east bound at the apex of his climb in the vicinity of the home pylon, a puff of smoke about the size of the aircraft was observed from the area of the right engine. The right propeller was then observed to come to an abrupt stop in the unfeathered position. Next, the landing gear was seen to extend then retract. The aircraft ground pit crew observed the accident sequence. According to their statements, the rate of smoke dissipation from the right engine on the accident flight appeared to be an oil smoke or oil vapor rather than a coolant type vapor. In their opinion, the puff of smoke over the finish pylon was most probably from a rod failure penetrating the crankcase and/or water jacket. As the airplane approached abeam of the numbers on the north side of runway 26, it was observed to pitch down while turning right to a southeasterly heading. The aircraft entered a rapid descent on an angle
Probable cause
OIL STARVATION AND CONNECTING ROD FAILURE IN THE RIGHT ENGINE, AND A RESULTANT FUEL FED FIRE.
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Browse: Nevada
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
