- Date
- May 10, 1992, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Wendell, NC
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N613ABAvid Flyer Heavy Hauler
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 1993
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19920510013929A
- Case key
- 8600
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The improper installation of the forward spark plug by the owner/pilot, which resulted in a loss of engine power. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.
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.
Analysis
The engine had been repaired because of a crack in the rotary valve housing. On the first flight after the repair, the engine lost power during the initial climb after take off. A forced landing was made in rough, wooded terrain. Subsequent examination of the engine revealed that the forward spark plug was loose. Excessive anti seize compound was observed on the spark plug. No other engine problems were noted.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N613AB
- Reported as
- Avid Flyer Heavy Hauler (FLYER HEAV)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 510
- Airframe hours
- 6
- Engine
- Rotax 532, 64 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Reagin, Brian E.
- Registered owner
- Reagin, Brian E.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Unknown · March 27, 1992 · 4 hours before
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
- 36
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 430 total · 3 in this make and model · 331 as pilot in command · 4 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 310° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 12 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 73 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- RDU, 25 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.