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20220114000639A

Accident · Substantial damage
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FAA accident report · Walter Tachiki TACHIKI 750 CRUZER · Spanish Fork, UT · January 14, 2022

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

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Date
January 14, 2022 · 12:45 local
Place
Spanish Fork, UT
Airport
Spanish Fork-Springville
Phase of flight
Descent
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N145WT
NTSB investigation
NTSBWPR22LA080
Reported as
Walter Tachiki Tachiki 750 Cruzer
Reported engine
HONDA VTECH
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
1
Pilot’s certificate
Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
138 total3 in this make and model
N145WTRegistered now · Walter Tachiki TACHIKI 750 CRUZERS/N WTI · Built 2019Airframe modelWalter Tachiki TACHIKI 750 CRUZEREngine modelHonda VTECH4 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.

The pilot in command (PIC) started N145WT with intent to takeoff on runway 30 at the Spanish Fork-Springville municipal airport (U77). During takeoff, the PIC set engine throttle and noticed it was rotating at ~3800 rpms but believed it should have been around ~4300 rpms. Moments after lift off, the PIC realized there was a mechanical issue and attempted to return to the runway. The PIC advanced to max throttle but the engine continued to lose power. While banking west to come into approach, the aircraft lost lift and impacted the top of large building where it came to a stop on the roof. This was consistent with a induced stall. Statements and information has been limited due to the PIC being in the hospital. During the joint faa/ntsb investigation, it was discovered that the PIC had a prop strike in 2020. Repairs included replacing the prop, engine cowlings, and some maintenance not affiliated with the existing damage. A physical investigation of the accident showed that the catalytic converter had been impacted and there were ceramic pieces blocking the exhaust. It also uncovered that the engine gear box had some internal warping and that the bearings had significant resistance.

As the FAA filed it

THE PILOT IN COMMAND (PIC) STARTED N145WT WITH INTENT TO TAKEOFF ON RUNWAY 30 AT THE SPANISH FORK-SPRINGVILLE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (U77). DURING TAKEOFF, THE PIC SET ENGINE THROTTLE AND NOTICED IT WAS ROTATING AT ~3800 RPMS BUT BELIEVED IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN AROUND ~4300 RPMS. MOMENTS AFTER LIFT OFF, THE PIC REALIZED THERE WAS A MECHANICAL ISSUE AND ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO THE RUNWAY. THE PIC ADVANCED TO MAX THROTTLE BUT THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO LOSE POWER. WHILE BANKING WEST TO COME INTO APPROACH, THE AIRCRAFT LOST LIFT AND IMPACTED THE TOP OF LARGE BUILDING WHERE IT CAME TO A STOP ON THE ROOF. THIS WAS CONSISTENT WITH A INDUCED STALL. STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION HAS BEEN LIMITED DUE TO THE PIC BEING IN THE HOSPITAL. DURING THE JOINT FAA/NTSB INVESTIGATION, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE PIC HAD A PROP STRIKE IN 2020. REPAIRS INCLUDED REPLACING THE PROP, ENGINE COWLINGS, AND SOME MAINTENANCE NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE EXISTING DAMAGE. A PHYSICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE ACCIDENT SHOWED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER HAD BEEN IMPACTED AND THERE WERE CERAMIC PIECES BLOCKING THE EXHAUST. IT ALSO UNCOVERED THAT THE ENGINE GEAR BOX HAD SOME INTERNAL WARPING AND THAT THE BEARINGS HAD SIGNIFICANT RESISTANCE.

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 WPR22LA080Accident · Serious injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportSpanish Fork, UTA partial loss of engine power due to an obstructed catalytic converter, which most likely resulted from the pilot’s failure to properly repair or replace it after it was likely damaged during a previous incident. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s…Jan 14, 2022 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N145WT · 1

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

Incident 20200417002729ILanding: Touchdown · Spanish Fork, UTOn the 3rd test flight they (aircraft and pilot) were landing at Spanish Fork, a cross wind caught the aircraft in the flare, lost control and got both wing tips and broke the nose wheel off. Aircraft came to a stop off the side of the runway. No injuriesApr 17, 2020 · Minor damage