# Accident 19970720018899A: Amtrlb AEROBAT, Brownsville, TX, July 20, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 20, 1997, 07:28 local time
- Place: Brownsville, TX
- Airport: Brownsville-South Padre International
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 25.9200° N, 97.4796° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.9200&lon=-97.4796&mi=10
- Aircraft: N17638, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N17638-2014-11-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Eichman Ellis V AEROBAT III (registry code 056125Q, https://openairdocs.org/model/eichman-ellis-v-aerobat-iii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Hirth F20 (registry code 33720, https://openairdocs.org/engine/hirth-f20) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTRLB AEROBAT
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Pilot flight hours: 580 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW97LA275](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA275) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970720018899A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

FIRST TEST FLIGHT LIFTED PORPOISED LIFTED. ROLLED. IMPACTED INVERTED. (-23) ON JULY 20, 1997, AIRCRAFT 17638, MODE AEROBATT III, OWNED, BUILT AND OPERATED BY ELLIS V. EICHMAN, ATTEMPTED TO DEPART FROM TEH BROWNSVILLE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF, BUT CAME DOWN HARD ON THE TAIL WHEEL AFTER REACHING AN APPROXIMATE ALTITUDE OF 20 TO 30 FEET. THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF AGAIN. THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO PORPOISE. THIS TIME THE AIRCRAFT REACHED AN APPROXIMATE ALTITUDE OF 50 FEET AND PERFORMED A SNAP ROLL. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED INVERTED ON THE RUNWAY. THERE WAS NO FIRE, BUT THE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED IN THE CRASH. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. NTSB HAS NOT ISSUED A CAUSE OF THE CRASH. THIS OFFICE CONSIDERS THIS ACCIDENT CLOSED.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW97LA275](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA275), Jul 20, 1997: Eichman Aerobat III (N17638), Brownsville, TX, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: inadequate design by the pilot/builder/designer. Related factors were: the porpoise that was encountered by the pilot during the takeoff, and the subsequent jammed rudder.

## Other reports on N17638 (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19870802055579I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870802055579I), Aug 2, 1987: Amtrlb AEROBAT (N17638), San Benito, TX, Minor damage. Left main gear collapsed during taxi run due to side load on gear. Gusty winds.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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