# Accident 20100529039609A: Thunderbird TOP DOG UL, Luling, TX, May 29, 2010

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 29, 2010, 09:00 local time
- Place: Luling, TX
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.7283° N, 97.6592° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.7283&lon=-97.6592&mi=10
- Aircraft: N2574V, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2574V-2017-05-22) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Thunderbird TOP DOG UL (registry code 05902V4, https://openairdocs.org/model/thunderbird-top-dog-ul) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 503 DCDI (registry code 55566, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-dcdi) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: THUNDERBIRD TOP DOG UL
- Reported engine: ROTAX 503 DCDI
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN10LA279](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA279) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100529039609A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 21, 2010 AT 09:40 AM, I HAD A PHONE INTERVIEW WITH KENTON COMER.  HE IS CURRENTLY IN A REHABILITATION HOSPITAL IN ST LOUIS DUE TO THE INJURIES RECEIVED FROM THE ACCIDENT AND STROKES THAT HAVE BEEN RECURRENT SINCE HIS ADMITTANCE TO THE HOSPITAL DUE TO THE ACCIDENT.  PRIOR TO HIM GOING TO ST LOUIS HE WAS IN THE HOSPITAL IN AUSTIN TEXAS FOR SIX WEEKS FOR RECOVERY FROM HIS INJURIES AND STROKES.  MR. COMER STATED HE PULLED THE AIRCRAFT OUT OF THE HANGER, DID A VISUAL PREFLIGHT INSPECTION.  HE THEN STARTED THE AIRCRAFT AND LET IT WARM UP FOR SEVERAL MINUTES AT 4,000 RPM.  HE THEN ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF FROM THE TARMAC WHICH RUNS 90 DEGREES TO THE RUNWAY.  HE STATED HE HAD DONE THIS IN THE PAST WITH OUT PROBLEMS.  AS THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE HE STATED HE FELT THE AIRCRAFT WAS NO ESTABLISHING A POSITIVE RATE OF CLIME AND WAS DESCENDING. HE DECIDED TO ABORT THE TAKE OFF THE AIRCRAFT STARTED TO VEER TO THE LEFT TOWARDS SOME MESQUITE TREES AND HE IMPACTED THEM.  MR. COMER WAS CANDIED THAT HE SHOULD TAKE SOME RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE HE DID NOT DO A PROPER PREFLIGHT AND ENGINE RUN UP.  IF HE WOULD HAVE, HE IS SURE HE WOULD NOT HAVE ATTEMPTED TO TAKE OFF FROM THE TARMAC.  I ASKED HIM ABOUT CHANGE TO SPARK PLUGS DUE TO THE FACT THERE WERE SEVERAL SETS OF THEM LAYING AROUND THE HANGER WERE HE KEPT HIS AIRCRAFT.  HE STATED HE DID CHANGE OUT THE PLUGS A LOT DUE TO FOULING.  MR. COMER COULD NOT GIVE ME HIS AIRCRAFT FLIGHT TIME TILL HE RETURNS HOME WHERE HE KEEPS HIS LOG BOOKS.  THE ENGINE WAS SHIPPED TO ROTAX FOR ENGINE TEAR DOWN. AN M OR D WILL BE SUBMITTED WHEN THE CAUSE OF LOSS OF ENGINE POWER IS DETERMINED.

## 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 CEN10LA279](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA279), May 29, 2010: Thunderbird TOP DOG UL (N2574V), Luling, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: Poor engine performance due to the modified engine parameters and installation of the fuel nozzles which produced a lean fuel condition resulting in decreased aircraft performance and subsequent…

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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