20030420009509A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Amtr Starstiletto · Belton, MO · April 20, 2003

Date: April 20, 2003 · 15:00 local
Place: Belton, MO
Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N42KY
NTSB investigation: NTSBCHI03LA120
Reported as: Amtr Starstiletto
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 222 total15 in this make and model1 in the last 90 days

N42KYRegistration cancelled Jul 7, 2017 · Yadon Kenneth E STARFLIGHT STILETTOS/N 5033 · Built 1985 Airframe modelYadon Kenneth E STARFLIGHT STILETTO Engine modelBombardier ROTAX (ALL)Reciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) During a flight to drop easter eggs attached to small parachutes, the PIC inadvertently toggled the "kill" switch that stopped the engine. He was unable to effect a re-start, and steered the airplane toward an open field. However, strong winds prevented sufficient forward progress, and the airplane became entangled in a tree-line. The PIC egressed onto a limb to await rescue personnel while the airplane remained in a tree. Post-accident inspection on 05/05/03 revealed torn fabric, deformed wing spar, damage to the nose gear, and fiberglass cracks in the fuselage.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) DURING A FLIGHT TO DROP EASTER EGGS ATTACHED TO SMALL PARACHUTES, THE PIC INADVERTENTLY TOGGLED THE "KILL" SWITCH THAT STOPPED THE ENGINE. HE WAS UNABLE TO EFFECT A RE-START, AND STEERED THE AIRPLANE TOWARD AN OPEN FIELD. HOWEVER, STRONG WINDS PREVENTED SUFFICIENT FORWARD PROGRESS, AND THE AIRPLANE BECAME ENTANGLED IN A TREE-LINE. THE PIC EGRESSED ONTO A LIMB TO AWAIT RESCUE PERSONNEL WHILE THE AIRPLANE REMAINED IN A TREE. POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION ON 05/05/03 REVEALED TORN FABRIC, DEFORMED WING SPAR, DAMAGE TO THE NOSE GEAR, AND FIBERGLASS CRACKS IN THE FUSELAGE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CHI03LA120Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPeculiar, MOThe pilot's inadvertent shutdown of the engine. Contributing factors were unsuitable terrain and trees.Apr 20, 2003 · Substantial damage