# Accident 20150102000479A: Dayton A Babcock STORM, Eustis, FL, January 2, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: January 2, 2015, 17:30 local time
- Place: Eustis, FL
- Airport: Mid Florida Air Service
- 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: N516VB, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N516VB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Dayton A Babcock STORM (registry code 0563136, https://openairdocs.org/model/dayton-a-babcock-storm) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Suzuki G13BB (registry code 59305, https://openairdocs.org/engine/suzuki-g13bb) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DAYTON A BABCOCK STORM
- Reported engine: SUZUKI G13BB
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor, sport pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 12,000 total, 11 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA15CA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA118) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150102000479A

## Narrative

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

ON JANUARY 2ND 2015 ABOUT 1730 LOCAL TIME, AN EXPERIMENTAL AMATEUR BUILT, WEIGHT SHIFT CONTROL TRIKE WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED DURING ITS FLARE MANEUVER AT MID FLORIDA AIRPARK IN EUSTIS, FL. THE AIRCRAFT A BABCOCK DAYTON A, STORM, WITH A REGISTRATION NUMBER N516VB. THE PILOT STATED HE ENCOUNTERED A PROP WASH, FORCING A RIGHT WING BANK AND STRIKING THE GROUND.  THE NOSE GEAR THEN COLLAPSED CAUSING THE TRIKE TO ROLL, SIMILAR TO A GROUND LOOP. THE PILOT HOLDS A SPORT PILOT CERTIFICATE AND A CURRENT MEDICAL, DATED 08/13/2014. THE AIRCRAFT INSPECTION IDENTIFIED TWO PROPELLER BLADES AND RIGHT HAND WHEEL COVER CRACKED. THE MAIN FRAME IS TWISTED AND BUCKLED IN THREE PLACES. THE NOSE GEAR ASSEMBLY DETACHED AND FOLDED UNDERNEATH AND THE WING TUBING (SPAR) WAS ALSO BROKEN AND BENT. BOTH OF WHICH ARE STRUCTURAL. OTHER DAMAGE WAS CONSIDERED MINOR. THE AIRCRAFT HAS FLOWN 24.9 HOURS SINCE NEW AND STILL REMAINS IN PHASE I FLIGHT TESTING AND CURRENTLY HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED UNDER THE PRESCRIBED LIMITATIONS ISSUED AND REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.

## 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 ERA15CA118](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA118), Jan 2, 2015: Dayton A Babcock Storm (N516VB), Eustis, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate spacing from the preceding aircraft during a formation landing, resulting in an inadvertent "prop wash" encounter, loss of control, and impact with terrain.

## Other reports on N516VB (1)

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

- [Accident 20160820012109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160820012109A), Aug 20, 2016: Dayton A Babcock STORM (N516VB), Eustis, FL, Substantial damage. Pilot [privacy data omitted] ATP certificate #[privacy data omitted] on 8/20/16 at approximately 9AM departed X55 (mid Florida airport) and flew west…

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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