# NTSB ATL06CA125: Brown Floyd L Christen Eagle II, N225FL, Topsail Beach, NC, September 3, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 3, 2006, 13:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Topsail Beach, NC - Coordinates: 34.363056, -77.621948 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.3631&lon=-77.6219&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Greensboro FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 64458 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL06CA125 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64458/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL06CA125 ## Probable cause The in-flight separation of the engine and propeller from the airframe for undetermined reasons, which resulted in the airplane's uncontrolled impact with water. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise - engine assembly - separation - Loss of control - in flight, descent - uncontrolled - aircraft control - not possible, pilot in command - bail-out/emergency ejection - intentional, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water ## Analysis According to the pilot, while at 2,000 feet in cruise flight he heard a "loud bang," and then the airplane vibrated uncontrollably. The pilot bailed out safely. According to the Topsail Beach Police Department, several witnesses on the beach stated the airplane was flying at an altitude of about 200-feet performing aerobatic maneuvers over the ocean strand. The witnesses stated that it looked like the engine separated from the front of the airplane. The engine and propeller have not been recovered. An FAA Inspector stated the pilot has not given the FAA permission to inspect the airplane wreckage. ## Factual narrative On September 3, 2006, at 1345 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt experimental Christen Eagle II, N225FL, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with water following an in-flight loss of control about 1 mile off the coast of Topsail Beach, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airline-transport rated pilot reported no injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated from a private airstrip in Chinquapin, North Carolina, on September 3, 2006, at 1330. The pilot, stated to an FAA inspector that while at 2,000 feet in cruise flight he heard a "loud bang," and then the airplane vibrated uncontrollably. He was wearing a parachute and bailed out safely. According to the Topsail Beach Police Department, several witnesses on the beach stated the airplane was flying at an altitude of about 200-feet performing aerobatic maneuvers over the ocean strand. The witnesses stated that it looked like the engine separated from the front of the airplane. The pilot jumped out and deployed his parachute. The pilot was then picked up by a boat in the local area. On September 5, 2006, the Onslow County Sheriff's Department divers located the airplane about 200 yards from the shore. The airplane was resting about 40-feet below the surface. The divers pulled the airplane up towards the surface and then had it hoisted toward the shore. An FAA Inspector telephoned the pilot on September 7, 2006, to schedule a visit for photographing the crashed aircraft and components. The pilot stated that he had already moved the airplane to his home in Chinquapin and disassembled it. The pilot said he had not found the engine or propeller. When asked, the pilot stated he was aware of engine and propeller bulletins and stated the engine had a "new crankshaft" and that a propeller inspection had been performed. The FAA further stated that they have requested a written statement, last aircraft condition inspection, airworthiness directive compliance list, and the engine and propeller logbooks. To this date, the requested items have not been received from the pilot. The pilot filed an NTSB 6120.1/2 Aircraft Accident Report with NTSB, but did not submit a written statement about the accident. Numerous attempts to contact the pilot by the NTSB Investigator have also been unsuccessful. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N225FL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N225FL-2014-12-02), registration cancelled 2014-12-02, S/N 308005010209, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Brown Floyd L Christen Eagle II - Registry model: [Brown Floyd L CHRISTEN EAGLE II](https://openairdocs.org/model/brown-floyd-l-christen-eagle-ii) (registry code 05618HO) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming AEIO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-aeio-360-series) (registry code 41522, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 308005010209 - Airframe hours: 60.7 - Engines: Lycoming AEIO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Floyd L. Brown - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: PVT, Chinquapin, NC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2006; seat: rear; flight hours: 15,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 14,000 as pilot in command, 160 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 4 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: NCA ## 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 20060903019239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060903019239A), Sep 3, 2006: Amtr CHRISEAGLE2, Topsail Island, NC, Substantial damage. (-23) On the day of the accident, the PIC [privacy data omitted] verbally stated he was flying over the ocean straight and level east of Topsail Island when he… 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.