- Date
- September 15, 2010, 07:20 local (12:20 UTC)
- Place
- Mineola, TX
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- UNREGAerolite Bearcat
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 5, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- Case key
- 77313
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
Failure of the oil injection pump resulting in a total loss of engine power.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The non-certificated pilot was flying an unregistered light sport airplane when the airplane experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot stated that he attempted to deploy the ballistic parachute but was unable due to the parachute's safety ring not being properly attached. The pilot then attempted to perform a forced landing to a field but inadvertently stalled the airplane. The airplane impacted terrain, resulting in substantial damage. A postaccident examination revealed that the engine's oil injection pump failed and that the safety ring for the parachute had vibrated loose. The engine was not being maintained by a maintenance inspection program and maintenance documents were not available.
Factual narrative
The non-certificated pilot was flying an unregistered light sport airplane when he experienced a loss of engine power. The pilot stated that he attempted to deploy the ballistic parachute but was unable due to the parachute's safety ring not being properly attached. The pilot then attempted to perform a forced landing to a field but inadvertently stalled the airplane. The airplane impacted terrain resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. An examination revealed that the engine's oil injection pump has failed and that the safety ring for the parachute had vibrated loose. The engine was not being maintained by a maintenance inspection program and maintenance documents were not available. The pilot was not aware that the airplane needed to be registered with the Federal Aviation Administration.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Aerolite Bearcat
- Category
- Ultralight
- Serial number
- UNK
- Engine
- Rotax 582UL, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Airworthiness certificate
- Unknown
- Departed
- Mineola, TX
- Destination
- Mineola, TX
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 54
- Injuries
- Minor
- Seat
- Single
- Flight hours
- 108 total · 108 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 68 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- JDD
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 25, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 459 KB in all.