2010 – N144TJ – Richard Huges – Cozy III – Pine Bluff, AR – 0

Canopy came open in flight, landed off airport. The airplane was in cruise flight when the right-side hinged cockpit canopy suddenly opened to about a 90-degree up position. The pilot’s headset and several other loose items in the cockpit exited the airplane. The pilot subsequently experienced a “large vibration” in the engine. With the engine […]

1998 – N173VE – Cory Howe – Velocity SE/FG – Little Rock, AR – 2

The experimental homebuilt airplane was destroyed when it impacted trees following a loss of engine power during the takeoff/initial climb. Several witnesses reported that the engine sputtered then it lost power. Post-accident metallurgical examination revealed radial and circumferential cracks on the valve seat head of the #3 exhaust valve. The combustion chamber face of the […]