Worgull HORNET N707BD

Summary

On 11 September 2000 at about 15:30 local time, a Worgull HORNET registered N707BD was involved in an accident near Camp Verde, Arizona, 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

11 September 2000 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Camp Verde, Arizona, United States

Nearest airport

Montezuma Airport (7E7)

Coordinates

34.4805, -111.7792

Aircraft

Worgull HORNET

Registration

N707BD

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

LAX00LA350

Nobody was injured.

Separation of the forward spark plug due to wear damage to the cylinder head threads. A factor in the accident was traffic on the highway and the pilot having to maneuver to avoid the traffic.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane lost power on takeoff and landed hard during the ensuing emergency landing on a highway median. Upon examination of the engine it was noted that the forward spark plug had separated from the associated cylinder head. The cylinder head threads showed evidence of wear and appeared flattened. The pilot indicated that new spark plugs had been installed prior to the last flight and torqued to the manufacturer's recommended 110-inch pounds of pressure. He also stated that the threads on the cylinder heads are constructed of aluminum and the threaded portions of the spark plug barrels are constructed of steel. No further mechanical anomalies were noted.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.