# Accident 20211115020069A: Lou Pappas WAIEX B, Laveen, AZ, November 15, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 15, 2021, 11:11 local time
- Place: Laveen, AZ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.3492° N, 112.1296° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3492&lon=-112.1296&mi=10
- Aircraft: N535D, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N535D-2023-05-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Lou Pappas WAIEX B (registry code 05637HX, https://openairdocs.org/model/lou-pappas-waiex-b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LOU PAPPAS WAIEX B
- Reported engine: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,500 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR22LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA035) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211115020069A

## Narrative

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

PILOT DEPARTED GEU AND HAD BEEN FLYING FOR APPROXIMATELY 45 MINUTES. DURING HIS RETURN FLIGHT FROM CGZ TO GEU, AT AN ALTITUDE OF 3500FT, THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH. THE PILOT CHECKED BOTH HIS MAGS FOR PROPER OPERATION AND DETERMINED THEY WORKED. HE WAS PREPARING TO LAND AT HACIENDA AIR PARK LOCATED IN LAVEEN ARIZONA. DUE TO HAVING SECONDS TO ASSESS THE LZ PRIOR TO SAFELY LANDING THE AIRCRAFT, THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND THE AIRCRAFT IN THE DESERT. DURING LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT CAME IN CONTACT WITH ROUGH TERRAIN AND HIT A BOB-WIRE FENCE FLIPPING  THE AIRCRAFT OVER.  AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## 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 WPR22LA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA035), Nov 15, 2021: Sonex Waiex B (N535D), Laveen Village, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure of the rocker swivel assembly due to either wear or corrosion, which resulted in a loss of engine power.

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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