Ferguson William C FX4-2 N8508H

Summary

On 19 March 2010 at about 19:20 local time, a Ferguson William C FX4-2 registered N8508H, operated by Young Robert E, was involved in an accident near Cartersville, Georgia, United States. 2 people were 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

19 March 2010 at 19:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Cartersville, Georgia, United States

Nearest airport

Cartersville Airport (VPC)

Coordinates

34.1231, -84.8486

Aircraft

Ferguson William C FX4-2

Registration

N8508H

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Young Robert E

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Cartersville → Cartersville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA10LA179

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the engine-driven oil pump drive coupling resulting in a loss lubrication and subsequent loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot and certified flight instructor (CFI) were practicing takeoffs and landings. On the fourth takeoff, the airplane lifted off and the engine temperatures were within the normal range. At traffic pattern altitude, the pilot reduced power and turned left to enter the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. Shortly after making the turn, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The CFI took control of the airplane as the pilot restarted the engine. The engine regained full power for about five seconds and then shut down again. The CFI maneuvered the airplane for an off-airport landing in a pasture adjacent to the runway. The airplane landed hard and subsequently pivoted up on the nose cone before coming to a stop. During a postaccident examination and test run of the engine the two-cycle engine started and ran continuously on the airframe. When the engine was accelerated to full throttle, it lost power. Further examination revealed a failure of the engine-driven oil pump drive coupling. The resultant loss of lubrication and increased heat melted the rear piston lands over the piston rings. This led to a loss of cylinder compression and subsequent loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.