NTSB CAROL · Event
Event CHI92DCJ04
Aircraft involved
Probable cause & findings
THE INADEQUATE MAINTENANCE OVERHAUL OF THE LEFT MAGNETO, AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OF THE LEFT MAGNETO/IGNITION SYSTEM WHICH CAUSED A COMPLETE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
Factual narrative
THE PILOT WAS ENGAGED IN AERIAL APPLICATION ACTIVITIES WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. HE STATED HE HAD JUST ENTERED A CLIMBING LEFT TURN TO REVERSE DIRECTION AT THE END OF A SWATH RUN WHEN THERE WAS A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. HE LANDED STRAIGHT AHEAD IN A TERRACED WHEAT FIELD, AND THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED A TERRACE. THE PILOT ESTIMATED HE WAS ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND WHEN THE POWER LOSS OCCURRED. POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE LEFT MAGNETO FAILED DUE TO A JAMMED FLYWEIGHT ON THE IMPULSE COUPLING. THE CRANKSHAFT DRIVE GEAR THEN FAILED, AND THE ENGINE LOST POWER. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12
Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file
NTSB_1992_CHI92DCJ04.txt.
Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb.
Full investigation docket on
data.ntsb.gov ↗.
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Related research
What the literature says.
Academic papers and agency reports matching this event's aircraft type or causal vocabulary (maintenance). Sourced from NASA NTRS, NTSB Safety Studies, FAA CAMI, AOPA Air Safety Institute, Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons, arXiv, and the Semantic Scholar academic graph.
- Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons 2026 · Journal article (IJAAA)
From Reactive to Predictive: A hybrid Trust-Mediated Adoption Framework for Data-Driven Maintenance in Distributed-Authority Aviation Environments
Modern aviation maintenance operates within increasingly data-intensive technological environments, yet the operational integration of predictive maintenance into routine decision-making remains incon…
- Semantic Scholar 2025 · Article (Applied Sciences)
Decision-Making Framework for Aviation Safety in Predictive Maintenance Strategies
The implementation of predictive maintenance (PM) in aviation presents unique challenges due to strict safety requirements, complex operational environments, and regulatory constraints.
- Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons 2024 · Journal article (JAAER)
Low-Resource Automatic Speech Recognition Domain Adaptation – A Case-Study in Aviation Maintenance
With timeliness and efficiency being critical in the aviation maintenance industry, the need has been growing for smart technological solutions that optimize and streamline the different underlying ta…
- Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons 2024 · Journal article (JAAER)
A New Trajectory in UAV Safety: Leveraging Reinforcement Learning for Distance Maintenance Under Wind Variations
In the field of aviation, safety is a critical cornerstone, and the operation of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) systems is deeply connected with this principle.
- Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons 2024 · Journal article (IJAAA)
Just Culture in Aviation: A Metaphorical Study on Aircraft Maintenance Students
Just Culture, a sub-dimension of safety culture, has been a prominent and debated topic in aviation safety in recent years.
- Embry-Riddle Scholarly Commons 2024 · Journal article (IJAAA)
Performance PRISM: A Comprehensive Framework For Performance Measurement In Aircraft Maintenance
Aircraft maintenance is governed by rigorous safety requirements and high operational complexity, demanding robust performance measurement frameworks to ensure optimal maintenance practices.
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