# Accident 20150729015659A: Matthew Santonastaso MOSQUITO, Winchendon, MA, July 29, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 29, 2015, 14:38 local time
- Place: Winchendon, MA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.6811° N, 72.0492° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6811&lon=-72.0492&mi=10
- Aircraft: N285XE, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N285XE) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Matthew Santonastaso MOSQUITO (registry code 056337P, https://openairdocs.org/model/matthew-santonastaso-mosquito) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MATTHEW SANTONASTASO MOSQUITO
- Reported engine: INOVATOR TECHNOLOGIES INNTEC 800
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA15LA291](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA291) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150729015659A

## Narrative

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

ON JULY 29, 2015, AT APPROXIMATELY 10:30 LOCAL, THE PILOT PERFORMED A PREFLIGHT OF THE AIRCRAFT AND DEPARTED FROM JAFFREY AIRPORT (AFN).  HE FLEW FOR APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES PRACTICING AUTO ROTATIONS.  HE DID NOT NOTICE ANY ABNORMALITIES IN REGARDS TO THE OPERATION OF THE AIRCRAFT OR ENGINE INDICATOR READINGS.  AFTER HE LANDED BACK AT JAFFREY AIRPORT, HE REFUELED THE AIRCRAFT WITH 93 OCTANE GASOLINE WHICH HE PURCHASED FROM A NEARBY GAS STATION.  THE PRACTICING OF ROTATIONS IS A ROUTINE PRACTICE FOR HIM PRIOR TO FLYING FURTHER FROM THE AIRPORT.  AFTER FUELING, HE DEPARTED AGAIN AND HEADED SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT.  AT 2500 FEET MSL HE FELT THE TAIL KICK DUE TO THE LOSS OF TORQUE.  HE NOTICED THE ENGINE RPM WAS ONLY AT APPROXIMATELY 30%, AND THE ENGNE POWER WOULD NOT INCREASE.  THIS FORCED HIM TO AUTO ROTATE.  HE PERFORMED A MAXIMUM GLIDE AUTO ROTATE TO AN EMPTY FIELD, AND HAD A HARD LANDING.  THE HARD LANDING CAUSED ONE OF THE MAIN ROTOR BLADES TO STRIKE THE TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT SEVERING THE TAIL ROTOR AND PART OF THE TAIL BOOM.

## 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 ERA15LA291](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15LA291), Jul 29, 2015: Sontonastaso Mosquito (N285XE), Winchendon, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A partial loss of engine power due to a faulty electrical wiring crimp in the engine’s ignition system.

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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