# NTSB CEN09CA386: Hubbell Prescott Pusher, N19PP, Ashville, OH, June 24, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 24, 2009, 10:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Ashville, OH - Coordinates: 39.778057, -82.884719 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7781&lon=-82.8847&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - Columbus FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74130 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA386 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74130/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74130 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA386 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power due to propeller damage from being struck by the cabin-entry door, which inadvertently opened and departed the airframe for undetermined reasons during flight. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Doors: passenger/crew doors](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Hubbell Wheeler L MD PRESCOTT PUSHER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md?model=056162E), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035210/cases.md) - [Propeller system: propeller blade section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046111): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Hubbell Wheeler L MD PRESCOTT PUSHER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046111/cases.md?model=056162E), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046111/cases.md) - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Hubbell Wheeler L MD PRESCOTT PUSHER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md?model=056162E), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event); cases with it: [Hubbell Wheeler L MD PRESCOTT PUSHER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=056162E), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Approach: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Hubbell Wheeler L MD PRESCOTT PUSHER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=056162E), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Hubbell Wheeler L MD PRESCOTT PUSHER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=056162E), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hubbell Wheeler L MD PRESCOTT PUSHER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056162E), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Hubbell Wheeler L MD PRESCOTT PUSHER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=056162E), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis As the airplane approached its destination, the cabin-entry door inadvertently opened, departed the airframe, and struck the pusher-type propeller. The airplane experienced a significant loss of engine power and the pilot performed a forced landing into a nearby wheat field. The left wing was substantially damaged when the left main landing gear collapsed during landing. The amateur-built airplane was equipped with a single, gull-wing type, cabin door. The door, located on the left side of the cabin, articulated around a hinge on the top of the fuselage. The door latch-pins were designed to engage the fuselage using three capturing latch assemblies installed in the fuselage sidewall. These capturing latches functioned collectively using a single door latch handle. A post-accident inspection and testing of the fuselage-mounted latch assemblies and their common latch handle failed to reveal any anomalies or damage. All three corresponding latch-pins remained attached to the recovered door frame and appeared undamaged. ## Factual narrative As the airplane approached its destination, the cabin-entry door inadvertently opened, departed the airframe, and struck the pusher-type propeller. The airplane experienced a significant loss of engine power and the pilot performed a forced landing into a nearby wheat field. The left wing was substantially damaged when the left main landing gear collapsed during landing. The amateur-built airplane was equipped with a single, gull-wing type, cabin door. The door, located on the left side of the cabin, articulated around a hinge on the top of the fuselage. The door latch-pins were designed to engage the fuselage using three capturing latch assemblies installed in the fuselage sidewall. These capturing latches functioned collectively using a single door latch handle. A post-accident inspection and testing of the fuselage-mounted latch assemblies and their common latch handle failed to reveal any anomalies or damage. All three corresponding latch-pins remained attached to the recovered door frame and appeared undamaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N19PP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N19PP-2012-02-03), registration cancelled 2012-02-03, S/N 09, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hubbell Prescott Pusher - Registry model: [Hubbell Wheeler L MD PRESCOTT PUSHER](https://openairdocs.org/model/hubbell-wheeler-l-md-prescott-pusher) (registry code 056162E) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 009 - Airframe hours: 104 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1C 200 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Operator: Airdat, LLC - Registered owner: Airdat, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 22, 2009 - Departed: 2W6, Leonardtown, MD - Destination: KLCK, Columbus, OH - Flight plan: VFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; flight engineer, military, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 26, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 4,000 total, 65 in this make and model, 3,500 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KLCK, 8 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 20090624011209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090624011209A), Jun 24, 2009: Hubbel PRESCOTTPUSH, Columbus, OH, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot stated that while on descent into klck from 6500 ft MSL to 1500 ft MSL the left hand leading edge of the canopy door started to flutter… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 8, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74130. 914 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 836 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318171&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandums of Conversations with FAA Inspectors (item 2, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318172&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandums%20of%20Conversations%20with%20FAA%20Inspectors-Master.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.