- Date
- May 8, 1995, 10:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place
- Cumming, GA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N47WHKolb Firestar II
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 31, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19950508012829A
- Case key
- 3559
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 pilot/owner's failure to inspect the aircraft, which resulted in a loose spark plug lead. A factor was the rough terrain conditions at the landing area.
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 private pilot observed unusual engine vibrations and noise, and elected to perform an emergency landing in an open field. During the landing roll, the right, main landing gear struck a hole, and the gear collapsed. An examination of the engine revealed that one of the spark plug leads was loose. The aircraft had not been inspected within the previous 12 months, and the pilot/owner did not possess a current biennial flight review or FAA medical certificate.
Factual narrative
On May 8, 1995, at 1000 eastern daylight time, a Kolb Firestar II, N47WH, was substantially damaged during a precautionary landing in Cumming, Georgia. The private pilot was not injured. The homebuilt, experimental aircraft was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the local, personal flight. The flight originated at a private field in Cumming at 0900.
The pilot reported that the aircraft was in cruise flight when he observed unusual engine vibrations and noise. He set up for a precautionary landing in a nearby, open field. During the landing roll, the right, main landing gear struck a hidden hole, and collapsed, resulting in structural airframe damage. An examination of the Rotax 503 engine revealed that one of the spark plug leads was loose.
An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the pilot/owner had reserved the aircraft registration number N47WH, but had not registered the aircraft. The pilot did not possess a current FAA medical certificate, nor did he have a current biennial flight review. The inspector also reported that the aircraft and engine did not have a current annual inspection.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N47WH
- Reported as
- Kolb Firestar II (FIRESTAR I)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 001
- Engine
- Rotax 503, 46 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Hinklemann, William E.
- Registered owner
- Hinkelmann, William E.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- NONE · GA
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 47
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Expired
- Seat
- Center
- Flight hours
- 200 total · 27 in this make and model · 20 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 80° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- PDK, 210 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.