# NTSB CEN09CA334: Aerotrike Safari, N8035W, Lake City, MI, May 23, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 23, 2009, 18:05 local (22:05 UTC) - Place: Lake City, MI - Coordinates: 44.320278, -85.171112 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3203&lon=-85.1711&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, Grand Rapids FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73957 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA334 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73957/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73957 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA334 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during the initial climb. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aero Trike SAFARI, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05902UE), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aero Trike SAFARI, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05902UE), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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 control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Aero Trike SAFARI, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05902UE), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aero Trike SAFARI, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05902UE), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the experimental weight-shift-control aircraft was performing a takeoff from runway 18 when the accident occurred. The pilot stated that during initial climb, about 10-12 feet above the ground, the aircraft began to descend and drift off of the runway centerline. The pilot was not able to correct for the descent and lateral drift before the aircraft landed hard on its rear landing gear. The right wing tip impacted the terrain as the aircraft bounced twice and tipped onto its side. The wing and its king post were substantially damaged during the accident. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures. According to the pilot, the local surface winds were 3-5 knots from the west-southwest. A nearby weather station reported that the surface winds were 7 knots from the northwest. ## Factual narrative The experimental weight-shift-control aircraft was performing a takeoff from runway 18 when the accident occurred. The pilot stated that during initial climb, about 10-12 feet above the ground, the aircraft began to descend and drift off the runway centerline. The pilot was not able to correct for the descent and lateral drift before the aircraft landed hard on its rear landing gear. The right wingtip impacted the terrain as the aircraft bounced twice and tipped onto its side. The wing and its king post were substantially damaged during the accident. The pilot stated that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures. According to the pilot, the local surface winds were 3-5 knots from the west-southwest. A nearby weather station reported that the surface winds were 7 knots from the northwest. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8035W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8035W-2013-07-19), registration cancelled 2013-07-19, S/N M5439499, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aerotrike Safari - Registry model: [Aero Trike SAFARI](https://openairdocs.org/model/aero-trike-safari) (registry code 05902UE) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503 DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-dcdi) (registry code 55566, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: M5439499 - Airframe hours: 183.27 - Engines: Rotax 503 DCDI 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 13, 2009 - Departed: Y91, Lake City, MI - Destination: Y91, Lake City, MI - Airport: Y91, Home Acres Sky Ranch Airport, runway 18, 2,550 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 16, 2007; seat: front; flight hours: 157 total, 69 in this make and model, 87 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KCAD, 11 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 20090523010659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090523010659A), May 23, 2009: Aerotr SAFARI, Lake City, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft departed from runway 18 at Lake City airport. The aircraft had approximately 7 gallons of fuel. The pilot and passenger combined were 400 lbs.… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 23, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73957. 1.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314969&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.