Mechanical & Engine Failure · NTSB ERA09LA025
MOSES TIM C QUICKSILVER — Wingate, NC
| Date | October 21, 2008 |
| Location | Wingate, NC |
| Aircraft | MOSES TIM C QUICKSILVER |
| Purpose of flight | Instructional |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Takeoff Loss of engine power (total) |
| Pilot age | 46 |
| Pilot total time | 2,800 hrs · Experienced |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 1, 1 serious |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Aircraft-Aircraft power plant-Engine (reciprocating)-Recip engine power section-Failure
- Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Rough terrain-Effect on equipment - C
- Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-Rough terrain-Contributed to outcome - C
What happened
The flight instructor and the student pilot just landed from a cross country instructional flight. They decided to conduct additional traffic pattern work and took off from the grass strip. During the takeoff, when the airplane was 200 feet above the ground, there was a total loss of engine power. The flight instructor elected to allow the student handle the emergency. They were not able to return to the grass strip and elected to land in a rough corn field. The airplane landed flat with the left main wheel touching first. When the nose tire touched the ground the airplane flipped over. The forward section of airframe structure, where the student pilot was seated, collapsed. An examination of the engine revealed a fractured crankshaft near the number 2 piston journal section. The airplane’s maintenance records did not provide any history on the engine.