# Accident 20250728017249A: Orlican S R O M-8 EAGLE, Lake Worth, FL, July 28, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 28, 2025, 16:29 local time
- Place: Lake Worth, FL
- Airport: Palm Beach County Park
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 26.5999° N, 80.0730° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5999&lon=-80.0730&mi=10
- Aircraft: N974FL, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N974FL) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Orlican S R O M-8 EAGLE (registry code 06001C5, https://openairdocs.org/model/orlican-s-r-o-m-8-eagle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 912ULS series (registry code 55572, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ORLICAN S R O M-8 EAGLE
- Reported engine: ROTAX 912ULS SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 6
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot, student
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA25LA278](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA278) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250728017249A

## Narrative

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

NTSB ACCIDENT NO. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^: ATQA: A-SO-19-25-049 SAS PTRS NO.: SO19202507166 TASK ID: T-SO19-FY25-0949  REGISTRATION: XXXXX  MAKE: ORLICAN  MODEL: M-8  SERIAL NUMBER:  2022006 WHEN: JULY 28, 2025  WHERE: PALM BEACH COUNTY AIRPORT (LANTANA) LAT 26°35'59.65"N 80° 4'22.73"W,-WHAT: ON JULY 28, 2025, ABOUT 16:24 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, AN ORLICAN M-8, NXXXX WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED WHEN IT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT NEAR LAKE WORTH BEACH, FLORIDA. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES, THE PRIVATE PILOT SUSTAINED NO INJURIES, AND FIVE PEOPLE ON THE GROUND SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED AS A TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS PART 91 FLIGHT TEST.

FACTUAL INFORMATION: THE PILOT/^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ REPORTED THAT HE HAD BROUGHT THE AIRPLANE TO THE UNITED STATES TO HAVE MAINTENANCE COMPLETED. DURING THE MAINTENANCE WORK A NEW PROPELLER WAS INSTALLED AND THE ACCIDENT FLIGHT WAS A TEST FLIGHT WITH THE PILOT/^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND A FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR WHERE THEY WOULD CALIBRATE THE NEW PROPELLER. THE PILOT/^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ CONTINUED THAT AFTER DEPARTING RUNWAY 10 AT PALM BEACH COUNTY PARK AIRPORT (LNA), WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA, ABOUT A MINUTE INTO THE FLIGHT THEY EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THEY PERFORMED A FORCED LANDING TO A ROADWAY NEAR A PARK DURING WHICH THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A TREE AND A VEHICLE ON THE ROADWAY RESULTING IN SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FUSELAGE, BOTH WINGS, ENGINE MOUNT, AND EMPENNAGE.

POST ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE AIRPLANE FOUND THERE WERE ABOUT 27 GALLONS OF 100LL AVIATION FUEL PRESENT BETWEEN BOTH THE WING FUEL TANKS. POST ACCIDENT PHOTOS SHOWED THAT THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP SWITCH, AVIONICS SWITCH, AND STROBE SWITCH WERE IN THE ON POSITION. THE PILOT/^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ REPORTED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS USUALLY USED FOR “ISLAND HOPPING” IN THE CARIBBEAN AND THAT HE WOULD BRING TO THE UNITED STATES TO HAVE MAINTENANCE WORK COMPLETED.

POST CRASH INTERVIEWS WITH PILOT/^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND MECHANIC INDICATE A MECHANIC PERFORMED A ANNUAL CONDITION INSPECTION, AND A 200HRS. CARBURETOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC STATED HE PERFORMED AN INSPECTION OF THE CARBURETOR AND FOUND WATER IN THE FUEL BOWLS. THE INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED OVER THE WEEKEND ON JULY 27, 2025.  A REVIEW OF THE POST ACCIDENT MAINTENANCE RECORDS REVEAL NO MAINTENANCE RECORD ENTRY WAS PERFORMED FOR THE ANNUAL CONDITION INSPECTION AND CARBURETOR INSPECTION.

THE PILOT INTERVIEW REVEALS WATER WAS FOUND DURING THE PRE FLIGHT INSPECTION. THE PILOTS SUMPED THE FUEL VIA THE GASCOLATOR UNTIL VISIBLE AV GAS WAS SEEN.

SEE AR SO19202507165 FOR POST WRECKAGE EXAMINATION. POST WRECKAGE OF THE EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED WATER CONTAMINATION AT THE ENGINE DRIVEN PUMP, GASCULATOR, AND FILTER LOCATED ON THE GASCULATOR. WATER CONTAMINATION WAS ALSO FOUND ON BOTH ENGINE CARBURETORS.  THE PROBABLE CAUSE OF THIS ACCIDENT IS: THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT INSPECTION WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO FUEL CONTAMINATION (WATER).

## 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 ERA25LA278](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA278), Jul 28, 2025: Orlican S R O M-8 Eagle (N974FL), Lake Worth Beach, FL, substantial damage, investigation ongoing

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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