20201211017619A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Kolb FIRESTAR II · Durham, NC · December 11, 2020

Date: December 11, 2020 · 14:25 local
Place: Durham, NC
Airport: Lake Ridge Aero Park
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N7094T
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA21LA075
Reported as: Kolb Firestar II
Reported engine: ROTAX 503 DCDI
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Commercial pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 2,520 total

N7094TRegistered now · Kolb FIRESTAR IIS/N 522 · Built 1994 Airframe modelKolb FIRESTAR II Engine modelRotax 503 DCDI2 cycle

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.

At approximately 1850Z N7094T was over falls lake at about 500 ft AGL when the engine began to loose power and the aircraft was unable to maintain altitude. The pilot's options were to land in the trees or in the lake. N7094T ended up in the lake. Pilot was only occupant onboard aircraft and escaped without injury.

As the FAA filed it

AT APPROXIMATELY 1850Z N7094T WAS OVER FALLS LAKE AT ABOUT 500 FT AGL WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN TO LOOSE POWER AND THE AIRCRAFT WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. THE PILOT'S OPTIONS WERE TO LAND IN THE TREES OR IN THE LAKE. N7094T ENDED UP IN THE LAKE. PILOT WAS ONLY OCCUPANT ONBOARD AIRCRAFT AND ESCAPED WITHOUT INJURY.

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 ERA21LA075Accident · No injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportDurham, NCA total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as the result of a degraded fuel primer check valve.Dec 11, 2020 · Substantial damage