# NTSB ANC01LA008: Weste Avid, N126DW, Chugiak, AK, October 15, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 15, 2000, 13:40 local (21:40 UTC) - Place: Chugiak, AK - Coordinates: 61.409053, -149.169204 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4091&lon=-149.1692&mi=10 - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 50484 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50484/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA008 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to a piston failure. Factors in the accident were an out-of-rig flight control system, an inadvertent stall, and no suitable terrain for a forced landing. ## Analysis The private certificated pilot reported he was asked by the owner to fly a newly homebuilt experimental airplane to evaluate its handling characteristics. The pilot owns a similar homebuilt airplane. The pilot said he briefly flew the airplane in the past. To maintain level flight, the pilot said he had to hold the flight control stick to the right and forward of a neutral position. Additionally, he had to hold left rudder pressure to maintain a straight and level flight attitude. The pilot also said that he thought the airplane seemed airworthy. The owner of the airplane asked the pilot to fly one more time before any changes were made to the rigging of the flight controls. The pilot said he operated the airplane on the ground for about 20 minutes, and then departed to conduct some touch and go landings. The airplane required the same out-of-neutral positioning of the controls as the previous flight. The pilot made one low pass to the runway, and was following another airplane that had extended its downwind landing pattern. The pilot said he was at 500 feet msl when the engine, a Rotax 582, suddenly quit. The airplane entered an uncommanded right spin. He recovered the airplane from the spin above tree-top level and had insufficient altitude to land at the airport. The pilot made a forced landing in a swampy area with the landing gear in the down position. The right wing struck the ground and broke off. The pilot reported that the engine lost compression. ## Factual narrative On October 15, 2000, about 1340 Alaska daylight time, an experimental, homebuilt amphibious float equipped Weste Avid airplane, N126DW, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing, about 1/2 mile southwest of the Birchwood Airport, Chugiak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was registered to the owner, Don Weste, Anchorage, Alaska, and operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated at the Birchwood Airport about 1320. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on October 15, 2000, the pilot reported he was asked by the owner of the airplane to fly the newly built airplane to evaluate its handling characteristics. The pilot owns a similar homebuilt Avid Amphibian. After construction, a forty-hour flight test period is required for non type-certificated airplanes. The pilot said he briefly flew the airplane in the past. To maintain level flight, the pilot said he had to hold the flight control stick to the right and forward of a neutral position. Additionally, he had to hold left rudder pressure to maintain a straight and level flight attitude. The pilot also said that he thought the airplane seemed airworthy. The owner of the airplane asked the pilot to fly one more time before any changes were made to the rigging of the flight controls. The pilot said he operated the airplane on the ground for about 20 minutes and then departed to conduct some touch and go landings. The airplane required the same out-of-neutral positioning of the controls as the previous flight. The pilot made one low pass to runway 19 at the Birchwood Airport, and was following another airplane that had extended its downwind landing pattern. The pilot said he was at 500 feet msl when the engine, a Rotax 582, suddenly quit. The airplane entered an uncommanded right spin. He recovered the airplane from the spin above tree-top level and had insufficient altitude to land at the airport. The pilot made a forced landing in a swampy area with the landing gear in the down position. The right wing struck the ground and broke off. In the Pilot/Operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) submitted by the pilot, the pilot indicated that the engine lost compression. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N126DW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N126DW-2004-05-03), registration cancelled 2004-05-03, S/N 026, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Weste AVID - Registry model: [Weste Don A AVID AMPHIBIAN](https://openairdocs.org/model/weste-don-a-avid-amphibian) (registry code 9570846) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 026 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Ken M. Boze - Registered owner: Don A. Weste - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: PABV - Airport: PABV, Birchwood ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 201 total, 79 in this make and model, 111 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: PAB ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20001015041709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20001015041709A), Oct 15, 2000: Amtr AVIDAMPHIBIA, Birchwood, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On departure from the Birchwood airstrip, during the initial amateur built certification process, the engine quit at 700 feet MSL. The aircraft entered a… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.