[JYO] Today's Washington Post: Engine Failure Caused First Plane Crash, Report Shows
- From: FlyboyEd@xxxxxxx
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- Date: Sun, 4 May 2003 13:04:02 EDT
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Engine Failure Caused First Plane Crash, Report Shows
By Barbara E. Martinez<!--plsfield:credit-->Washington Post Staff
Writer<!--plsfield:disp_date-->Sunday, May 4, 2003; Page
LZ01
<!--plsfield:description-->
The National Transportation Safety Board issued a final report confirming
that engine failure caused the July 6 plane crash that killed pilot James M.
Scambos, the first of three fatal crashes of small planes in residential
areas of Leesburg.
But investigator Bob Gretz said the NTSB could not determine what caused the
engine failure, despite thoroughly investigating the plane twice and sending
engine components to the manufacturer for testing. The insurer also examined
the Diamond Aircraft Industries 20C-1, a two-seat turboprop plane.
"This one was very frustrating because we just went through it and couldn't
figure out what caused the engine to lose power," Gretz said.
The report noted that in an examination of the engine, "the number two
cylinder spark plug electrode was black and sooty," but otherwise "no
discrepancies were noted within the engine."
It also said that another DA 20C-1 leased by AV-ED Flight School Inc., which
rented the plane to Scambos, had power problems in the past. Those had not
recurred since a manufacturer's representative helped mechanics properly set
the fuel system.
Gretz said he could not determine the setup of the fuel system in the plane
that crashed because it was crushed on impact.
The accident happened in clear weather about 40 minutes after Scambos, a
commercial pilot, took off from Leesburg Executive Airport for a recreational
flight.
The report said witnesses recounted that Scambos was making a left turn
heading north, aiming for a crash landing in a field at Ida Lee Park, when
the plane stalled because it had too little speed in the turn. It went down
in Tudor Court in northeast Leesburg and slid about 100 feet into a driveway.
The Leesburg Town Council passed a resolution last summer praising Scambos,
44, of Ashburn, for narrowly avoiding houses on Tudor Court. The council also
praised Scambos for landing on the left side of the plane, sparing the life
of stepson Paul, 22, a passenger.
Donald O. Robb, owner of AV-ED Flight School Inc., which leased the plane,
said Paul Scambos still flies out of Leesburg Airport occasionally when he is
on leave from the Air Force.
"The incident was, of course, a great tragedy for the family," Robb said,
adding that Paul Scambos is a third-generation pilot.
All three recent plane crashes in Leesburg narrowly missed homes, leading to
calls from the public to close the town's airport and upgrade its navigation
system.
An initial NTSB report on the March 1 crash that killed pilot Donald W.
Fitzpatrick of Reston, co-pilot Gregory D. Jackson of Sterling and passenger
Bronson Byrd of Purcellville indicates pilot error.
The initial report on the March 20 crash, in which pilot Franklin M. Rizer of
Warren, Ohio, was killed, is inconclusive. Final reports on those crashes
could take a year to complete.
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