20120317004369A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Sadler Terry A MERLIN · Otisfield, ME · March 17, 2012

Date: March 17, 2012 · 12:30 local
Place: Otisfield, ME
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N6113Y
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA12LA230
Reported as: Sadler Terry A Merlin
Reported engine: SUBARU ALL MDLS A/B
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 990 total62 in this make and model4 in the last 90 days

N6113YRegistration cancelled Oct 31, 2017 · Sadler Terry A MERLINS/N 94029 · Built 2000 Airframe modelSadler Terry A MERLIN Engine modelSubaru ALL MDLS A/B4 cycle

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.

The purpose of the flight was to test fly the aircraft after the installation of inflatable floats. Upon the airplane becoming airborne, privacy data omitted noticed that it took almost full forward elevator control to keep the airplane level. The aircraft was struck by a gust of wind, privacy data omitted applied forward elevator to counteract the pitch-up. Sufficient elevator control was not available. The aircraft stalled, and struck the frozen surface of the lake.

As the FAA filed it

THE PURPOSE OF THE FLIGHT WAS TO TEST FLY THE AIRCRAFT AFTER THE INSTALLATION OF INFLATABLE FLOATS.UPON THE AIRPLANE BECOMING AIRBORNE, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ NOTICED THAT IT TOOK ALMOST FULL FORWARD ELEVATOR CONTROL TO KEEP THE AIRPLANE LEVEL. THE AIRCRAFT WAS STRUCK BY A GUST OF WIND, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ APPLIED FORWARD ELEVATOR TO COUNTERACT THE PITCH-UP. SUFFICIENT ELEVATOR CONTROL WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE AIRCRAFT STALLED, AND STRUCK THE FROZEN SURFACE OF THE LAKE.

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 ERA12LA230Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportOtisfield, METhe pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was his lack of experience in the airplane make and model.Mar 17, 2012 · Substantial damage