# Accident 20210912015639A: American Champion Aircraft 8KCAB, Rhine, GA, September 12, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 12, 2021, 19:30 local time
- Place: Rhine, GA
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 32.0005° N, 83.1798° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.0005&lon=-83.1798&mi=10
- Aircraft: N390PE, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N390PE) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: American Champion 8KCAB (registry code 2121000, https://openairdocs.org/model/american-champion-8kcab) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming AEIO-390-A1B6 (registry code 42409, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-390-a1b6) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT 8KCAB
- Reported engine: LYCOMING AEIO-390-A1B6
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,606 total, 7 in this make and model, 494 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA21FA355](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21FA355) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210912015639A

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2021, AT APPROXIMATELY 1930 EASTERN DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME, A 2015 AMERICAN CHAMPION AIRCRAFT CORPORATION, MODEL 8KCAB, WITH REGISTRATION N390PE WAS DESTROYED UPON IMPACT WITH TERRAIN APPROXIMATELY 1.5 MILES EAST OF RHINE, GA. THE PILOT WAS THE SOLE PERSON ONBOARD AND SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THIS WAS A PERSONAL FLIGHT BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91. ACCORDING TO A WITNESS, THE ACCIDENT PILOT WAS PRACTICING AEROBATICS ON THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT. HE STATED THE PILOT BUZZED HIM AND CAME AROUND FOR A SECOND PASS. AS THE AIRCRAFT APPROACHED THE WITNESS, THE PILOT BEGAN AN AILERON ROLL. THE ROLL APPEARED NORMAL TO THE WITNESS UNTIL THE REACHING THE ¾ POINT WHEN THE ROTATION STOPPED AND THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED TOWARD THE GROUND IN A RIGHT WING LOW POSITION. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN A TREE LINE. THE COMPOSITE PROPELLER BLADES WERE BROKEN AND SPLINTERED. PROPELLER SLASH MARKS WERE NOTED ON THE TREES. THE WINGS WERE SEPARATED AT IMPACT. THE FUSELAGE WAS CRUSHED FROM THE FIREWALL TO THE EMPENNAGE. THE ENGINE WAS SEPARATED FROM THE FIREWALL. CONTINUITY OF THE FLIGHT CONTROL CABLES WAS OBSERVED FROM THE COCKPIT TO THE CONTROL SURFACES. FUEL WAS OBSERVED IN THE ENGINE FUEL LINES, FUEL SERVO AND FLOW DIVIDER. AN INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED VALVE TRAIN CONTINUITY, COMPRESSION ON EACH CYLINDER, AND NO METALLIC PARTICLES IN THE OIL FILTER. THE SPARK PLUGS APPEARED NORMAL AND SPARK WAS ESTABLISHED ON EACH MAGNETO HIGH TENSION LEAD. A REVIEW OF THE AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE RECORDS INDICATED AN ANNUAL INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED ON JANUARY 15, 2021 AT A TOTAL AIRFRAME TIME OF 106.4 HOURS.

## 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 ERA21FA355](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21FA355), Sep 12, 2021: American Champion 8KCAB (N390PE), Rhine, GA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: A collision with trees during a low-altitude aerobatic maneuver for unknown reasons.

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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