Byron J Moore ZEALOT N61ZT

Summary

On 9 April 2009 at about 15:45 local time, a Byron J Moore ZEALOT registered N61ZT, operated by Fredric P. Griffith, was involved in an accident near Clermont, Florida, 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

9 April 2009 at 15:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Clermont, Florida, United States

Coordinates

28.5500, -81.7769

Aircraft

Byron J Moore ZEALOT

Registration

N61ZT

Category

Glider

Engines

1

Operator

Fredric P. Griffith

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mascotte → Mascotte

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09LA238

Nobody was injured.

A loss of engine power due to oil starvation as a result of the previous owner's improper servicing of the engine oil.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that he was in cruise flight at 1,800 feet when the motorized glider experienced a total loss of engine power. He attempted an engine restart with negative results and made a forced landing. The current owner stated that he purchased the motor glider about 4 months before the accident. The engine had been removed by the previous owner, rebuilt, serviced, installed on the glider, and placed in storage. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector disassembled the engine after the accident. Prior to disassembly, the oil tank indicated that it was full of oil. Disassembly of the engine revealed the rotary valve disc drive gear had failed due to insufficient lubrication. There were about 2 ounces of oil drained from the oil bath reservoir. The engine manufacturer's installation manual indicated that if the vent plug in the engine case is not removed when servicing the engine with oil. The oil reservoir can indicate it is full of oil, and an air bubble can form which will prevent oil from filling the chamber. This will result in significant heat, and cause catastrophic failure of the drive gear due to insufficient lubrication. The previous owner stated that he did not remove the vent plug when he serviced the oil after the engine was rebuilt and installed on the motor glider.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.