What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On June 16 2021 at 1345 local N704AK while inbound to kapa on the RNAV rwy 35R approach struck power lines 3NM south of the runway. The aircraft made a 360 degree turn and when queried by the controller the pilot responded "weve had an autopilot failure and are turning around" shortly thereafter the aircraft struck power lines on a northerly heading after finishing their 360 degree turn. Radar replay indicates a descending left hand 360 degree turn where the aircraft struck power lines just as they finished the turn. The reason for the turn and autopilot failure is unknown at this time. The aircraft was destroyed in a post impact fire. Wreckage was retained for further examination.
09/21/21 And 09/22/21 examination of the wreckage with NTSB, Lancair rep, and p&w Canada rep revealed no anomolies with the powerplant. Garmin G1000 avionics, GFC700 autopilot pitch and roll servos, and inboard sections of flaps were retained for further examination by NTSB labs for any evidence of a split flap scenario or autopilot malfunction. This report will be amended when further information is avaialble from those examinations. Primary cause still unknown.
As the FAA filed it
ON JUNE 16 2021 AT 1345 LOCAL N704AK WHILE INBOUND TO KAPA ON THE RNAV RWY 35R APPROACH STRUCK POWER LINES 3NM SOUTH OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT MADE A 360 DEGREE TURN AND WHEN QUERIED BY THE CONTROLLER THE PILOT RESPONDED "WEVE HAD AN AUTOPILOT FAILURE AND ARE TURNING AROUND" SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK POWER LINES ON A NORTHERLY HEADING AFTER FINISHING THEIR 360 DEGREE TURN. RADAR REPLAY INDICATES A DESCENDING LEFT HAND 360 DEGREE TURN WHERE THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK POWER LINES JUST AS THEY FINISHED THE TURN. THE REASON FOR THE TURN AND AUTOPILOT FAILURE IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. THE AIRCRAFT WAS DESTROYED IN A POST IMPACT FIRE. WRECKAGE WAS RETAINED FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION.
09/21/21 AND 09/22/21 EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE WITH NTSB, LANCAIR REP, AND P&W CANADA REP REVEALED NO ANOMOLIES WITH THE POWERPLANT. GARMIN G1000 AVIONICS, GFC700 AUTOPILOT PITCH AND ROLL SERVOS, AND INBOARD SECTIONS OF FLAPS WERE RETAINED FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION BY NTSB LABS FOR ANY EVIDENCE OF A SPLIT FLAP SCENARIO OR AUTOPILOT MALFUNCTION. THIS REPORT WILL BE AMENDED WHEN FURTHER INFORMATION IS AVAIALBLE FROM THOSE EXAMINATIONS. PRIMARY CAUSE STILL UNKNOWN.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.