# Accident 20130406005399A: Phoenix Air Sro U-15 PHOENIX, Columbia, SC, April 6, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 6, 2013, 15:30 local time
- Place: Columbia, SC
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 35.9694° N, 81.8186° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9694&lon=-81.8186&mi=10
- Aircraft: N94DK, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N94DK) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Phoenix Air Sro U-15 PHOENIX (registry code 0600079, https://openairdocs.org/model/phoenix-air-sro-u-15-phoenix) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 912ULS series (registry code 55572, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PHOENIX AIR SRO U-15 PHOENIX
- Reported engine: ROTAX 912ULS
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Sport pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 122 total, 60 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA13CA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA195) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130406005399A

## Narrative

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

PILOT STATED ON THE RETURN TRIP FROM NORTH CAROLINA, HE EXPERIENCED

TURBULENCE WHILE CRUISING AT 55OO FEET. THE PILOT FELT SHAKING OR JERKING LASTING ONLY A SECOND OR TWO. HE HEARD NOISE LIKE A CRACKING SOUND OR POSSIBLY THE SOUND OF A QUART OF OIL LOOSE IN THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT. AFTER DISCONNECTING THE AUTOPILOT, THE PLANE HANDLED NORMALLY, ALTHOUGH HE DID HEAR A SMALL NOISE TOWARDS THE REAR OF THE AIRPLANE THAT WAS UNUSUAL BUT IT DID NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. AFTER LANDING AT COLUMBIA OWENS FIELD, COLUMBIA, SC, THE AIRPLANE DID PORPOISE AND IT TOOK LONGER TO CLEAR THE RUNWAY. AFTER PARKING THE AIRPLANE AND CLEANING THE BOTTOM, THE PILOT NOTICED CRACKS ON THE FUSELEGE BOTTOM NEAR THE TAILWHEEL.

## 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 ERA13CA195](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA195), Apr 6, 2013: Phoenix Air U15 (N94DK), Foscoe, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The motorized glider’s encounter with clear air turbulence, which resulted in substantial damage to the empennage.

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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