Amateur-built T-51 MUSTANG accident near Lakeland, Florida, April 14, 2010
On April 14, 2010 at about 4:36 pm local time, a amateur-built T-51 MUSTANG, registered N551RD, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Lakeland, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The builder’s use of inadequate material for the exhaust manifold adapters resulting in heat damage and chafing of the crankshaft synchronizer and timing wires that rendered an inoperative ignition system and loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 14, 2010 · about 4:36 pm local time
- Place
- Lakeland, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built T-51 MUSTANG
- Registration
- N551RD · registry record · serial M07SV6S0HK0130
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the initial climb, the engine of the amateur built airplane lost all power. Attempts to restore the engine power by the pilot were not successful as he maneuvered the airplane for a forced landing to a field. A postaccident examination of the airplane’s engine compartment revealed that the left and right exhaust manifold adapters were made of inadequate aluminum material. In particular, the right exhaust manifold was found loosely attached to its adaptor by only two bolts (upper) that were not secured with safety wire. The lower two bolts of the adaptor appeared to have completely vibrated loose and each of the four threaded bolt holes were found stripped. The adaptor material had various degrees of thermal damage and erosion which allowed exhaust impingement onto the crankshaft synchronizer and timing wires that were located directly below the damaged manifold adaptor. The wires’ insulation was found heat damaged and chafed leaving the wire conductors exposed. The orientation of the chafing of the exposed wire conductors was in a straight line, nearly perpendicular to the wire’s length and consistent with having contact with the right lower longeron. Operational testing of the synchronizer and timing sensors system using the airplane’s battery power and the heat damaged synchronizer and timing wires was satisfactory. The engine was then rotated through several rotations using the starter and the ignition system appeared to be operational. With battery power applied, the chafed electrical wires with the exposed conductors were then placed against the right lower longeron and the ignition system became inoperative.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during maneuvering defining event
- Electrical system malf/failure during maneuvering
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Electrical power system › Electrical pwr sys wiring › Malfunction
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine exhaust › (general) › Design
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › (general) › Malfunction
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 3,230 hours in all; 549 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 3,218 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 5, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
Crew member
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 209 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 51 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 21, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 1,900 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Honda J35A4 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LAL Lakeland FL at 4:31 pm
- Destination: LAL Lakeland FL
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 15 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 4:50 pm from LAL, 4 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.