General Aviation Accident Bulletin

Recent general aviation and air carrier accidents.

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AVweb’s General Aviation Accident Bulletin is taken from the pages of our sister publication, Aviation Safety magazine and is published twice a month. All the reports listed here are preliminary and include only initial factual findings about crashes. You can learn more about the final probable cause in the NTSB’s web site at www.ntsb.gov. Final reports appear about a year after the accident, although some take longer. Find out more about Aviation Safety at www.aviationsafetymagazine.com.

August 6, 2016, Northampton, MA

Piper PA-28R-201 Arrow III

The airplane was substantially damaged at about 1145 Eastern time during a forced landing following a partial loss of engine power. The flight instructor and pilot receiving instruction were not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

According to the flight instructor, during a simulated soft-field take-off, the airplane’s climb performance deteriorated noticeably. As the airplane reached approximately 150 feet above ground level, the engine started to lose power and he realized any increase in pitch resulted in an immediate decrease in airspeed. The flight instructor elected to make an emergency off-airport landing in a corn field near the end of the departure runway. During the landing sequence, the right wing and firewall were damaged.

August 7, 2016, Shelbyville, KY

Van’s RV-4 Experimental

At about 1709 Central time, the airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing while on final approach. The private pilot was seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

The pilot subsequently reported observing a deer while on final approach and elected to execute a low approach. When he added full power on the climbout, only partial power was available, but the airplane was still able to climb and fly a traffic pattern. After he reduced power on the final approach, the engine began “running bad” and “a little rough.” To arrest a sink, the pilot added full power and turned the carburetor heat off. The engine did not produce full power, and the airplane kept descending until it impacted terrain about 200 feet from the runway.

August 7, 2016, St. Croix, Virgin Islands

Diamond Aircraft DA20-C1

The airplane was destroyed at 1123 Atlantic time when it collided with terrain following a bounced landing and runway excursion. The student pilot and flight instructor were seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

The airplane had completed one touch-and-go landing and was cleared for a second one. Just prior to touchdown, the airplane “tilted” to its left, and the left wingtip appeared to strike the ground prior to the main landing gear. The airplane bounced four to five times before “banking hard” to its left, departing the landing surface and crashing into trees north of the runway. Examination revealed the tail section and engine compartment had separated from the cockpit and cabin structure. Control continuity was established from the cockpit to the flight control surfaces through cable breaks and cuts made by recovery personnel.

August 8, 2016, Iliamna, AK

de Havilland DHC-2 Beaver

At about 1651 Alaska time, the float-equipped airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain during takeoff from a lake. Of the seven people on board, the commercial pilot and three passengers sustained serious injuries, and three passengers sustained minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.

The pilot later stated he back-taxied the airplane to the far end of the lake to use its full length for takeoff. During the takeoff run, the airplane did not become airborne before reaching the lake’s opposite shoreline. The floats subsequently collided with an area of rising terrain on the shoreline. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.

August 8, 2016, McDonough, NY

Cessna 177 Cardinal

The airplane was destroyed when it impacted trees and terrain at about 1535 Eastern time while maneuvering. The private pilot and three passengers incurred minor injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.

Prior to the accident flight, the pilot filled the airplane’s fuel tanks, for a total fuel load of 50 gallons. The flight’s purpose was to allow the three passengers to view and photograph a local landmark from the air. After two passes, the passengers asked him to fly by the landmark again, but at a slower speed. The pilot fully deployed the flaps and, during the fly-by, the pilot noted the airplane was slow and had descended to near the tops of the trees. He added full power and fully retracted the flaps. The airplane did not appear to be climbing and in “a wink of an eye the nose dropped.” The pilot’s next recollection was that the airplane was on the ground. He and his passengers subsequently egressed the airplane before it was consumed by a post-impact fire.

August 12, 2016, Fredericksburg, VA

Beech Model 95-B55 (T42A) Baron

At 1222 Eastern time, the airplane was substantially damaged when it collided with trees and terrain during an aborted landing attempt. The private pilot/owner, commercial pilot and four passengers aboard were fatally injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

Several witnesses stated the airplane appeared to be high above the threshold and fast. Surveillance video captured the airplane touching down briefly and bouncing several times. The airplane became airborne again near the last third of the runway. As it climbed, it drifted right of the runway centerline and began a gradual, climbing left turn to about 50 feet agl. The airplane appeared to level off, then began to descend before pitching up abruptly and rolling to the left as it descended into trees and terrain. Post-crash examination revealed the right propeller exhibited span-wise gouging and curling in an ‘S’ pattern. The left propeller’s blades were positioned to a flat pitch with little chord-wise damage and minimal curling.

August 13, 2016, Chugiak, AK

Champion 7ECA Citabria

The airplane was destroyed at about 1330 Alaska time following a loss of engine power and subsequent loss of control just after takeoff. The solo private pilot sustained fatal injuries. Visual conditions prevailed.

Earlier, the airplane performed a series of touch-and-go landings. Just after 1300, it did a full-stop landing, and it taxied to a local fuel vendor’s facility. A potential buyer/witness met the pilot about 1315 to look at the airplane. After the pilot and potential buyer parted ways, the pilot started the airplane and took off. As it neared the departure end of the runway, it turned steeply to the right (90 degrees), followed by a nose-and-right-wing-low descent. The airplane subsequently descended behind a large stand of trees and hangars, and out of view. Other witnesses reported hearing the engine “sputtering and popping,” and then it appeared to lose partial or all power. A helicopter pilot reported hearing a male voice transmit on the CTAF, “Oh [expletive],” immediately followed by the airplane appearing to stall and enter a nose-down attitude.

August 13, 2016, Des Moines, IA

Cirrus Design SR20

At about 1001 Central time, the airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. The pilot deployed the Cirrus airframe parachute system (CAPS) and the airplane descended into powerlines and terrain. The airplane was subsequently destroyed by a post-impact fire. The pilot and two passengers sustained minor injuries. An additional passenger was not injured. Visual conditions prevailed.

After pre-flight inspection and run-up, a normal takeoff was performed. Engine instrumentation indicated normal readings. During initial climb, at about 500 feet agl, the pilot heard and felt a reduction in engine power. He told ATC he had engine trouble and was cleared to land. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and deployed the CAPS. The airplane descended under canopy and contacted powerlines before coming to rest. A fire erupted from under the left wing; the pilot ordered his passengers to evacuate via the right cabin door.

This article originally appeared in the November 2016 issue of Aviation Safetymagazine.

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