What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On 08/14/2024 at approximately 1100 hours (et), a bearhawk, experimental, single engine airplane was being piloted at ME17 (Thomas Airport) in Roxbury, ME. The pilot reported he was doing pattern work at ME17 accomplishing "touch and go's." the pilot was landing on rwy 01 and he reported some gusty winds but said they were approximately 5 mph. On the last takeoff, coolant was coming out of the cowling, smoke began entering the cockpit and the propeller / engine stopped. The airplane was approximately 4/5 down the 1800 foot runway when the stoppage occurred and not fully airborne. At the end of the runway 01 is a 10 foot embankment and the swift river. The pilot applied the brakes in effort to stop before the embankment. The aircraft empennage struck the embankment causing damage to the airframe structure. The aircraft stopped just beyond the initial point of impact. No injuries reported and no passengers were aboard. The NTSB has been informed of the FAA investigation and poerplant issues / concerns. Until the NTSB determines further action is necessary from the FSDO or more information is provided, this investigation is placed into a closed status.
As the FAA filed it
ON 08/14/2024 AT APPROXIMATELY 1100 HOURS (ET), A BEARHAWK, EXPERIMENTAL, SINGLE ENGINE AIRPLANE WAS BEING PILOTED AT ME17 (THOMAS AIRPORT) IN ROXBURY, ME. THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS DOING PATTERN WORK AT ME17 ACCOMPLISHING "TOUCH AND GO'S." THE PILOT WAS LANDING ON RWY 01 AND HE REPORTED SOME GUSTY WINDS BUT SAID THEY WERE APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. ON THE LAST TAKEOFF, COOLANT WAS COMING OUT OF THE COWLING, SMOKE BEGAN ENTERING THE COCKPIT AND THE PROPELLER / ENGINE STOPPED. THE AIRPLANE WAS APPROXIMATELY 4/5 DOWN THE 1800 FOOT RUNWAY WHEN THE STOPPAGE OCCURRED AND NOT FULLY AIRBORNE. AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY 01 IS A 10 FOOT EMBANKMENT AND THE SWIFT RIVER. THE PILOT APPLIED THE BRAKES IN EFFORT TO STOP BEFORE THE EMBANKMENT. THE AIRCRAFT EMPENNAGE STRUCK THE EMBANKMENT CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME STRUCTURE. THE AIRCRAFT STOPPED JUST BEYOND THE INITIAL POINT OF IMPACT. NO INJURIES REPORTED AND NO PASSENGERS WERE ABOARD. THE NTSB HAS BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAA INVESTIGATION AND POERPLANT ISSUES / CONCERNS. UNTIL THE NTSB DETERMINES FURTHER ACTION IS NECESSARY FROM THE FSDO OR MORE INFORMATION IS PROVIDED, THIS INVESTIGATION IS PLACED INTO A CLOSED STATUS.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.