# Accident 20151015018109A: Titan TORNADO, Mitchelle, VA, October 15, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 15, 2015, 13:22 local time
- Place: Mitchelle, VA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.3619° N, 78.0258° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.3619&lon=-78.0258&mi=10
- Aircraft: N4070F, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4070F) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Titan TORNADO (registry code 0590111, https://openairdocs.org/model/titan-tornado) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Jabiru 2200 (registry code 34800, https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-2200) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TITAN TORNADO
- Reported engine: JABIRU 2200
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Sport pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 368 in this make and model, 18 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA16LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA016) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151015018109A

## Narrative

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

ON 15 OCTOBER 2015, AT APPROXIMATELY 1315, WHILE FLYING AT 2500 FEET, A TITAN TORNADO EXPERIMENTAL HOMEBUILT AIRCRAFT (N4070F) ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH.  ATTEMPTS TO CORRECT THE ENGINE WERE INEFFECTIVE MAKING IT NECESSARY TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY LANDING.  THE AIRCRAFT LINED UP ON THE ENTRANCE TO COFFEEWOOD PRISON.  ON LANDING ROLL OUT, THE AIRCRAFT EXITED THE ROAD TO THE RIGHT, SPUN 180 DEGREES,  AND HIT A PRISON FENCE. THE PILOT SUSTAINED NO INJURIES.  AT THAT TIME THE STATE POLICE AND FAA WERE NOTIFIED.  WHILE ACCOMPLISHING AN INSPECTION OF THE ACCIDENT SITE ON 15 OCTOBER, 2015, NUMEROUS PHOTOGRAPHS WERE TAKEN.  IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE LEFT AND RIGHT WING TIPS WERE CRUSHED, UPPER RIGHT WING BUCKLED, LEFT SIDE OF VERTICAL STABILIZER WAS BUCKLED, ELEVATOR WAS ON THE GROUND BENT AT A SLIGHT ANGLE, LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR BROKEN OFF AIRCRAFT, AND TAIL WHEEL BROKEN OFF AIRCRAFT.  THE ENGINE DID NOT APPEAR TO HAVE ANY FLUIDS LEAKING FROM IT.  THE VIRGINIA STATE POLICE PROVIDED THE PILOT?S STATEMENT, PERIMETER GUARD?S STATEMENT, AND A COPY OF THE VIRGINIA STATE POLICE ACCIDENT REPORT TO THE FAA INVESTIGATOR.

## 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 ERA16LA016](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA016), Oct 15, 2015: Titan Tornado (N4070F), Mitchells, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to fatigue cracking and separation of the No. 3 cylinder exhaust valve stem.

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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