# Accident 20000622041279A: Amtr AVIDAMPHIBIA, Fredericksburg, VA, June 22, 2000

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 22, 2000, 15:30 local time
- Place: Fredericksburg, VA
- Airport: Shannon Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.2891° N, 77.4810° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2891&lon=-77.4810&mi=10
- Aircraft: N61HS, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61HS-2004-02-18) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Schwarz Henry E AVID AMPHIBIAN (registry code 056229L, https://openairdocs.org/model/schwarz-henry-e-avid-amphibian) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR AVIDAMPHIBIA
- Reported engine: AMTR GT1000
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 5,015 total, 271 in this make and model, 5 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC00LA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA176) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000622041279A

## Narrative

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

(.4) THE PILOT ADJUSTED THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE'S PROPELLER PITCH AND AFTER A NORMAL GROUND RUN-UP HE DEPARTED FOR A TEST FLIGHT. HE STATED THAT THE TAKEOFF WAS NORMAL AND THE ENGINE SOUNDED 'SMOOTH.' AFTER REACHING AN ALTITUDE OF ABOUT 300 TO 400 FEET (AGL), THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A SHARP REDUCTION IN POWER. THE RPM DROPPED FROM 6,600 TO 5,700; HOWEVER, THE ENGINE SOUND REMAINED CONSTANT. THE PILOT RETARDED THE THROTTLE AND THEN ADVANCED THE THROTTLE FORWARD. THE ENGINE RPM INCREASED MOMENTARILY THEN DROPPED TO ABOUT 5,000 RPM. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING TO A CORNFIELD. EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE DID NOT REVEALED ANY CATASTROPHIC AIRFRAME OR ENGINE MALFUNCTIONS. ADDITIONALLY, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE RAN SMOOTHLY DURING A POST ACCIDENT TEST RUN PERFORMED BY THE PILOT; HOWEVER, EXAMINATION OF THE PROPELLER REDUCTION GEARBOX REVEALED THAT THE STEEL CAGE OF THE SPRAGUE CLUTCH BEARING WAS 'CRACKED AND PARTIALLY DISINTEGRATED.' (-23) PILOT MADE A PRECAUTIONARY LANDING IN A CORN FIELD AFTER THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THE AIRCRAFT COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE.

## 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 NYC00LA176](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA176), Jun 22, 2000: Schwarz Avid Amphibian (N61HS), Fredericksburg, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A failure of the propeller reduction gear assembly for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a loss of thrust.

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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