IO540-D4A5 817 SMOH by Barrett Performance Engines. High performance engine includes, 10 to 1 compression, crank case doweled to accommodate the increased torque, new modified camshaft and fuel injection, Christen inverted oil system and inverted fuel.
Annual due: 2/1/00
No Damage History
Condition: 8
Condition: 7
Dual airspeed indicators
Dual directional Gyros
Dual artificial horizons
Dual turn & bank indicators
Left or right seat command
1-VSI (rt. side)
Lengthened, streamlined cowl
Servoed ailerons
Dual oil coolers
Insight graphic engine monitor
Wing tip strobes
Inverted fuel (left tank)
Christen inverted oil system
5 gal. smoke system
Stainless exhaust system
Split nose bowl
Pitot heat
Chadwick balanced propeller
KX155 dig. nav/com W/G/S
Escort II nav/com
KT76A transponder mode C
4 pl. intercom
Airways 3 light mkr./bcn.
KN64DME
Apollo 360 GPS
Avionic master switch
This plane has an interesting history. Someone in California bought this plane for his girlfriend and then they broke up. He sent it to St. Augustine, FL to be sold and it sat there for two years. Mr. Cords called the owner in CA and offered him $99,000 for the plane and the offer was accepted. Mr. Cordes had never flown an SF260 and when he went to St. Augustine to get the plane it almost took a court order to have the plane released. He moved the plane to Leesburg, FL where I first saw it. I lent Mr. Cord the POH and maintenance manuals and got them back two years later. The plane was finally bought by an aerobatic instructor who told me that before he bought it the wing spars had to be inspected. Then there was an incident at the Decatur, AL airport and the plane was repaired in Barto, FL.
The plane was flown to Germany on July 2, 2008. This picture was probably taken in Germany.
The accident report
MIA00LA244
On August 23, 2000, about 0930 central daylight time, a Siai-Marchetti, N800RH, registered to and operated by a private owner, as a Title 14 CFR part 91 personal flight, crashed after takeoff from Madison County Airport, in Meridianville, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The commercial-rated pilot, the sole occupant was not injured, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated that he performed the full preflight inspection, and everything was normal. The pilot further stated that upon departure from runway 08, while climbing through an altitude of about 50 to 70 feet above ground level, the engine suddenly ceased operating, with no prior warning. The pilot said he immediately switched from the right fuel tank to the left one, but the engine did not restart, so he executed a forced landing in an open grass area, on the west side of runway 18. The pilot said that during the landing rollout, the engine started, but the left wing and tail section struck a metal structure, and the airplane was damaged.
A witness stated that he heard the takeoff, and it sounded as if the engine was developing full power. The witness further stated that immediately after the airplane had lifted off, he heard the engine make sounds as if it was "missing," and he continued to watch as the airplane returned to the ground.
A second witness, a FAA licensed mechanic, stated that he had been watching the airplane the whole time, and he had observed the takeoff, and the engine sounded as if it was developing full power while the airplane was on the takeoff roll. The mechanic further stated that just after takeoff, at an altitude of about 100 feet, the engine sounded rough for a very brief period of about 2 to 3 seconds duration, and then the engine ceased operating. The mechanic said he then saw the aircraft descend behind a small dip in the terrain, out of sight. The mechanic said he then saw a cloud of dust, and at the same time, heard the sound of the airplane's engine again. About 2 to 3 minutes later, the mechanic said he saw the airplane taxiing back to the ramp where it had been prior to taxiing for the takeoff.
The FAA inspector who conducted the postaccident examination of the aircraft stated that he checked the airplane's fuel tanks, and he took fuel samples from each sump drain. The inspector further stated that he found 1/4 inch of water in the right tank drain. He said he also took fuel samples from the remaining tanks, but found no sediment or water in the remaining tanks. The inspector also said that the following day he conducted a static test on the engine. He said that the engine was operated, utilizing fuel from the right tank. According to the inspector, full power was applied for 3 to 5 minutes, and the engine operated normally with no loss in power.