# Accident 20130830017809A: Stemme Gmbh & Co S10-VT, Mackinaw City, MI, August 30, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 30, 2013, 20:15 local time
- Place: Mackinaw City, MI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 45.7678° N, 84.7347° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7678&lon=-84.7347&mi=10
- Aircraft: N389BD, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N389BD-2015-09-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Stemme S10-VT (registry code 1130872, https://openairdocs.org/model/stemme-s10-vt) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (registry code 09050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STEMME GMBH & CO S10-VT
- Reported engine: BOMBARDIER ROTAX (ALL)
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,200 total, 500 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN13LA524](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA524) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130830017809A

## Narrative

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

ON AUGUST 30, 2013, ABOUT 2015 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, N389BD, A STEMME GMBH S10-VT MOTOR-GLIDER, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE DURING A FORCED LANDING NEAR MACKINAC CITY, MICHIGAN. THE PRIVATE PILOT^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES AND THE PASSENGER WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED FOR THE PERSONAL FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91. NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT THAT ORIGINATED FROM THE WAUKEGAN REGIONAL AIRPORT (UGN), CHICAGO/WAUKEGAN, ILLINOIS, ABOUT 1530, AND DESTINED FOR MACKINAC COUNTY AIRPORT (83D), ST. IGNACE, MICHIGAN.

IN A WRITTEN STATEMENT, THE PILOT SAID THAT HE WAS ON A LONG, STRAIGHT IN APPROACH AT AN ALTITUDE ABOUT 2,000 FEET, WHEN HE HEARD A VERY LARGE "BANG" IN THE FRONT OF THE AIRPLANE. THE BANG WAS FOLLOWED BY A SEVERE VIBRATION THAT WAS SO INTENSE THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO READ HIS COCKPIT INSTRUMENTS. THE PILOT THEN REDUCED POWER, WHICH REDUCED THE VIBRATIONS; HOWEVER, HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. THE PILOT ELECTED TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND PREPARED TO MAKE A FORCED LANDING TO A FIELD. JUST PRIOR TO LANDING, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK TWO DEAD TREES AND LANDED INVERTED.

## 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 CEN13LA524](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA524), Aug 31, 2013: Stemme S10-VT (N389BD), Mackinaw City, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The mechanic’s failure to inspect the tightness of the bolts that connected the flexible disk to the driveshaft, which resulted in the failure of these components.

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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