20140903023579A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Klaas Development LANCAIR IV-P · Ooltewah, TN · September 3, 2014

Date: September 3, 2014 · 15:22 local
Place: Ooltewah, TN
Airport: Collegedale Municipal
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N541EM
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA14FA421
Reported as: Klaas Development Lancair IV-P
Reported engine: Continental TSIO-550-E
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 1
Other injuries: 0

N541EMRegistration cancelled Jan 5, 2018 · Klaas Development LANCAIR IV-PS/N LIV-398 · Built 2000 Airframe modelKlaas Development LANCAIR IV-P Engine modelAmateur-built UNKNOWN ENG

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.

Shortly after reaching cruise altitude the pilot reported that he was "having trouble holding altitude," he then descended to 15,000 feet MSL, reported "engine problems," and then reported "instrument problems." The pilot subsequently requested to divert to chattanooga-lovell field (cha), chattanooga, Tennessee. At 1513, the pilot reported that the airplane "lost engine power." At that time, radar data indicated that the aircraft was approximately 7 miles north of fgu at 6,000 feet MSL. The pilot then reported "oil all over the windshield" and that he "could not see a thing." Subsequently the pilot reported "I cannot see it. I cannot make it. I am just looking for anything at this point" and that a forced landing was imminent."

The airframe exhibited impact and crush damage and the empennage, aft of the most aft bulkhead, was separated, but remained in the immediate vicinity of the main wreckage. Both wings exhibited impact damage. The propeller was not located at the scene.

As the FAA filed it

SHORTLY AFTER REACHING CRUISE ALTITUDE THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE WAS "HAVING TROUBLE HOLDING ALTITUDE," HE THEN DESCENDED TO 15,000 FEET MSL, REPORTED "ENGINE PROBLEMS," AND THEN REPORTED "INSTRUMENT PROBLEMS." THE PILOT SUBSEQUENTLY REQUESTED TO DIVERT TO CHATTANOOGA-LOVELL FIELD (CHA), CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE. AT 1513, THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE "LOST ENGINE POWER." AT THAT TIME, RADAR DATA INDICATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS APPROXIMATELY 7 MILES NORTH OF FGU AT 6,000 FEET MSL. THE PILOT THEN REPORTED "OIL ALL OVER THE WINDSHIELD" AND THAT HE "COULD NOT SEE A THING." SUBSEQUENTLY THE PILOT REPORTED "I CANNOT SEE IT. I CANNOT MAKE IT. I AM JUST LOOKING FOR ANYTHING AT THIS POINT" AND THAT A FORCED LANDING WAS IMMINENT."

THE AIRFRAME EXHIBITED IMPACT AND CRUSH DAMAGE AND THE EMPENNAGE, AFT OF THE MOST AFT BULKHEAD, WAS SEPARATED, BUT REMAINED IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE MAIN WRECKAGE. BOTH WINGS EXHIBITED IMPACT DAMAGE. THE PROPELLER WAS NOT LOCATED AT THE SCENE.

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 ERA14FA421Accident · 1 fatalField investigationFinal reportOoltewah, TNThe inadequate torque of the propeller mounting bolts and inspection of the propeller, which resulted in the fatigue fracture of the bolts and a subsequent in-flight separation of the propeller assembly.Sep 3, 2014 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N541EM · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 20100319029689ICruise/Level Flight · Carrolton, GAAccording to statement from pilot, while enroute from tys direct to dts at approx. 16000 ft cabin door window failed and departed aircraft. Pilot declared emergency with atlanta ARTCC and descended below 10000 ft. pilot then requested clearance to nearest…Mar 19, 2010 · Minor damage