# NTSB ANC08LA063: Shaffstall Kolb Firestar II, N40737, Concord, NC, May 6, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 6, 2008, 11:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Concord, NC - Coordinates: 35.422222, -80.620552 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.4222&lon=-80.6206&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 8, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA Charlotte FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 67954 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC08LA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67954/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC08LA063 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for an undetermined reason, which resulted in a forced landing and collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Shaffstall James W KOLB FIRESTAR II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05625Z1), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Shaffstall James W KOLB FIRESTAR II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05625Z1), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Shaffstall James W KOLB FIRESTAR II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05625Z1), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Shaffstall James W KOLB FIRESTAR II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05625Z1), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The airplane was originally built and marketed as a kit built, two seat ultralight aircraft with a tubular frame and fabric-covered wings, but it was registered to the builder in 1995 as an airplane, and an "N" number was issued. The FAA's airplane registry still has the builder listed as owner, with a sale reported to another party, but not to the pilot. The pilot told an FAA inspector that he bought the airplane as a "no regulation" aircraft on E Bay. He assembled the airplane, installed a single seat, and rebuilt the Rotax engine about 30 hours before the accident. The airplane did not have a current registration, nor an airworthiness certificate. As part of the pilot's preflight before the accident flight, he drained and refilled the fuel tank. He then ran the engine, on the ground, for about 30 minutes. He then departed for one turn around the airport traffic pattern, and landed. He rechecked the engine and decided to depart for his intended destination. The pilot said that he just turned out from the local traffic pattern about 700 feet above the ground when the engine lost power. He tried to turn back toward the airport, but the airplane's glide capabilities were poor. He attempted to land on a nearby road, but the airplane descended in a steep, nose-down attitude, and collided with the ground in the front yard of a residence. FAA personnel, nor the pilot determined why the engine lost power. ## Factual narrative On May 6, 2008, about 1130 eastern daylight time, a kit-built Shaffstall, Kolb Firestar II airplane, N40737, sustained substantial damage when it collided with the ground during a forced landing, following a loss of engine power during takeoff-initial climb at Concord, North Carolina. The airplane was operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airline transport certificated pilot, the sole occupant, received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated at the Buffalo Creek Airport, Concord. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on May 7, the pilot reported that he planned to fly to a nearby racetrack, and drained and refilled the fuel tank. He then ran the engine, on the ground, for about 30 minutes. He then departed for one turn around the airport traffic pattern, and landed. He rechecked the engine and decided to depart for his intended destination. The pilot said that he just turned out from the local traffic pattern about 700 feet above the ground when the engine lost power. He tried to turn back toward the airport, but the airplane's glide capabilities were poor. He attempted to land on a nearby road, but the airplane descended in a steep, nose-down attitude, and collided with the ground in the front yard of a residence. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector, Charlotte Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), reported that the airplane was equipped with a tailwheel, fabric-covered wings over a tubular frame, and a Rotax engine that was mounted at the back of the wing. The airplane was originally built with two seats and marketed as an ultralight. The airplane was registered to the builder in 1995 as an airplane, and an "N" number was issued. The FAA's airplane registry still has the builder listed as the owner, with a sale reported to another party, but not the pilot. The FAA inspector said that pilot told him he bought the airplane as a "no regulation" aircraft on E Bay. The pilot assembled the airplane and only installed one seat. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, he indicated that the airplane's engine was rebuilt about 30 hours before the accident. The airplane did not have a current registration, nor an airworthiness certificate. The FAA nor the pilot determined why the engine lost power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N40737](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40737-2013-05-13), registration cancelled 2013-05-13, S/N 005-JS (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Shaffstall Kolb Firestar II - Registry model: [Shaffstall James W KOLB FIRESTAR II](https://openairdocs.org/model/shaffstall-james-w-kolb-firestar-ii) (registry code 05625Z1) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 005JS - Airframe hours: 195 - Engines: Rotax 503 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Stephen M. Hendry - Registered owner: James Shaffstall - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Departed: 4NC8, Concord, NC - Airport: 4NC8, Buffalo Creek Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: serious; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot; seat: center; flight hours: 12,000 total, 35 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: KJQF, 5 nm away ## 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 20080506842589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080506842589A), May 6, 2008: Amtr FIRESTARII, Concord, NC, Substantial damage. (-23) On the day of the crash after a successful second takeoff the pilot planned a downwind departure from Buffalo Creek Airport. The engine suddenly stopped… 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.