ATL01LA092

NTSB accident investigation · Kolb Twin Star Mark III · Edgewater, FL · July 24, 2001

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 24, 2001, 13:17 local (17:17 UTC)
Place
Edgewater, FL
Injuries
1 serious
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N703BLKolb Twin Star Mark III
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report July 25, 2002
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Orlando FSDO
FAA report
20010724027879A
Case key
52866

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The loss of flight control in-flight for undetermined reasons, that resulted in the uncontrolled collision with the ground.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightClimb
Reason for occurrence undeterminedPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

A Kolb Twin Star, Mark III, impacted the ground in a backyard of a single family dwelling in Edgewater, Florida. The pilot stated that shortly after takeoff from Massey Air Ranch Airport on runway 18, he experienced a loss of control of the airplane during his second left turn. The pilot stated that the elevator and aileron did not respond to the movement of the control stick. The airplane collided with the ground as the pilot attempted to regain control. Examination of the airplane revealed continuity existed between the control stick and the elevators and ailerons.

Factual narrative

On July 24, 2001 at 1317 eastern daylight time, a Kolb Twin Star, Mark III, N703BL registered to the pilot, impacted the ground in a backyard of a single family dwelling in Edgewater, Florida. The personal flight was conducted by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR 91with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane was substantially damage. The private pilot received serious injuries. The flight originated from Massey Ranch Airport, New Smyrna Beach, Florida at 1310.

The pilot stated that shortly after takeoff from Massey Air Ranch Airport on runway 18, he experienced a loss of control of the airplane during his second left turn. The pilot stated that the elevator and aileron did not respond to the movement of the control stick. The pilot stated that he tried to use engine power to regain control of the airplane. The airplane collided with the ground as the pilot attempted to regain control. Witnesses stated that they heard the engine sputtering prior to the impact with the ground.

Examination of the airplane revealed continuity existed between the control stick and the elevators. Examination of the control stick showed continuity through the aileron torque tube to the right and left push pull tube. Examination of the of the actual ailerons, flaps and rudder were not performed due to the substantial damage to those systems.

Aircraft

Registration
N703BL
Reported as
Kolb Twin Star Mark III
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
MT993-00008
Engine
Rotax 912 UL, 80 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Robert J Limpert
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Departed
X50 · Massey, FL
Airport
X50 · Massey Ranch Airpark, runway 18, 3,845 × 60 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
62
Injuries
Serious
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
February 1, 2001
Seat
Left
Flight hours
4,000 total · 20 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
170° at 9 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
88 °F, dew point 68 °F
Altimeter
30.07 inHg
Observed at
DAB

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.