# Accident 20130317004139A: Air Trikes EAGLE, Eustis, FL, March 17, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 17, 2013, 10:15 local time
- Place: Eustis, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.8433° N, 81.6300° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8433&lon=-81.6300&mi=10
- Aircraft: N44565, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44565-2019-11-29) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Air Trikes EAGLE (registry code 05903P5, https://openairdocs.org/model/air-trikes-eagle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Suzuki G10 (registry code 59299, https://openairdocs.org/engine/suzuki-g10) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR TRIKES EAGLE
- Reported engine: SUZUKI G10
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 221 total, 26 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA13CA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA177) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130317004139A

## Narrative

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

AT 1520 UTC ON SUNDAY MARCH 17, 2013 I RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM THE REGIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER (ROC) INFORMING ME OF A MISHAP THAT OCCURRED AT THE MID FLORIDA (X55) AIRPORT NEAR EUSTIS, FL. THE REPORTED TIME OF THE MISHAP WAS 1415 UTC BY LOCAL POLICE.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS A WEIGHT SHIFT CONTROL AIR TRIKES EAGLE REGISTRATION NUMBER N44565. THE AIRMAN STATED THAT HE WAS ON FINAL APPROACH FOR RUNWAY 18. AS THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED BELOW TREE TOP LEVEL HE REPORTED ENCOUNTERING TURBULENCE AND A SHIFT IN WIND DIRECTION. THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING DISPLACED FROM THE EXTENDED RUNWAY CENTERLINE BY THE WIND. NOT BEING ABLE TO STOP THIS DRIFT AWAY FROM THE RUNWAY THE AIRMAN ELECTED TO PERFORM A GO-AROUND MANEUVER. IT WAS AT THIS TIME THAT HE REPORTED THE AIRCRAFT TAKING A SHARP LEFT HAND TURN WHICH HE WAS UNABLE TO COMPENSATE FOR. HE ATTEMPTED TO CLEAR A TREE LINE THAT RAN THE LENGTH OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY. UNABLE TO GAIN ENOUGH ALTITUDE THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE TOP OF THE TREE LINE. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN THE TOP OF ONE OF THE TREES.

THE AIRMAN WAS NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED BUT RECEIVED A CUT ON HIS RIGHT HAND WHICH WAS TREATED BY EMERGENCY RESPONDERS. THE AIRCRAFT APPEARED TO SUSTAIN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE SAIL, WING FRAME, AND CROSS BAR. IN ADDITION, ALL PROPELLER BLADES WERE BROKEN OFF AT THE ROOT.

THE WEATHER AT THE TIME OF THE EVENT AS REPORTED AT 1453 UTC OBSERVED WINDS AT 160 DEGREES AND 6 KNOTS, THE SKY WAS CLEAR, THE TEMPERATURE WAS 20 DEGREE CELSIUS (68 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT), WITH A BAROMETRIC PRESSURE OF 30.16. THIS OBSERVATION WAS TAKEN FROM LEESBURG INT?L WHICH IS 9 NAUTICAL MILES TO THE WEST OF MID FLORIDA AIRPORT. SPEAKING WITH DEPUTY SNYDER, A FIRST RESPONDER AT THE SCENE, REPORTED THE WINDS TO BE STRONGER AND GUSTY THAN WHAT WAS REPORTED AT LEESBURG.

ON MONDAY MARCH 18, 2013 I VISITED AND DOCUMENTED THE SCENE WITH MAINTENANCE INSPECTOR SCOTT STRICKLAND. THE AIRCRAFT WAS STILL IN THE TOP OF THE TREE. PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN AND THE AIRMAN WAS INTERVIEWED. PHOTOS WERE SENT TO TIM MONVILLE FROM THE NTSB.

## 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 ERA13CA177](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA177), Mar 17, 2013: Trick Trikes Eagle (N44565), Eustis, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the weight-shift aircraft during the final approach to land.

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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