Wed Jun 12, 2002 3:25 pm
 
The engine was taken down by the NTSB and the FAA. There was 
galling on pistons number 4 and 3 near the top. This was believed 
to have happened during the prop strikes on the ground as none of 
the particles had made it to the oil screen or were found in the 
lower end. There was a broken compression ring on #3 and may have 
happened when installed. Oil was found in both 3 and 4 but it was 
not burned and was probably introduced when the aircraft was upside 
down and the oil was allowed to drain from the blowby to the carb 
and then when uprighted it drained through the carb and into the 
intake on cylinder number 4 mostly and some in number 3. We also 
found oil in the intakes on that side as well. The engine was turned 
over by hand after the crash and that is when the oil got in the 
cylinder. There was no oil down the belly so this didn't happen in 
flight and no smoke was seen by anyone at any time. 

The only thing that was found was that the distributor was not 
tightened back up after it was timed. It could be easily moved by 
hand. With the engine running and setting the timing you would not 
want to tighten the stop nut down until it was turned off. As they 
say shit happens. There will be a red line drawn on the side of our 
distributors, after they have been properly tightened and safety wired, 
to show the proper location of the distributor to the housing from 
this point on. 
 
It doesn't look like it will take too long to get this one ready to 
fly again. The lower wing will not take long to fix. The engine will 
have to be put back together and some new parts added as well. The 
lower longeron will not be a difficult fix. The upper wing bow will 
be easy as well. We have an extra set of gear legs already. Build 
one rudder and we will be on our way.
 
Jerry (The lowest time nieuport pilot on the planet. 20 min)