# NTSB CEN10FA519: Kwech Glasair RG Super 11S, N333HK, Lake Elmo, MN, September 3, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: September 3, 2010, 16:05 local (21:05 UTC) - Place: Lake Elmo, MN - Coordinates: 44.997501, -92.855552 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9975&lon=-92.8556&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 13, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 77203 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10FA519 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77203/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77203 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10FA519 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff with gusty wind conditions, which resulted in a collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Kwech Horst GLASAIR RG SUPER 11S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05626TP), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Kwech Horst GLASAIR RG SUPER 11S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05626TP), [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. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Kwech Horst GLASAIR RG SUPER 11S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05626TP), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Kwech Horst GLASAIR RG SUPER 11S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05626TP), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was departing in his experimental amateur-built airplane on a personal cross country flight. Witnesses in the area of the accident reported they observed the low-flying yellow airplane climb over a tree line, pass over the roadway they were on, encounter wind, and then bank. The airplane subsequently descended during the turn and impacted terrain in a field about 1/2 mile north of the departure runway, where it sustained substantial damage to its fuselage. The recorded wind was 19 knots gusting to 28 knots. The pilot sustained serious injuries and indicated that he did not recall anything regarding the accident flight. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or anomalies with the airframe or engine. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 3, 2010, about 1605 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Kwech GLASAIR RG SUPER 11S airplane, N333HK, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain during initial climbout from runway 32 (2,850 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) at Lake Elmo Airport (21D), near Lake Elmo, Minnesota. The personal flight was operating under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. An instrument flight rules flight plan was on file and was activated. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The flight was originating from 21D at the time of the accident, and was destined for the Pine River Regional Airport, near Pine River, Minnesota. Witnesses in the area of the accident reported to Washington County Sheriff’s Office representatives that they observed the low-flying yellow airplane. According to the witnesses, the airplane climbed over a tree line, passed over Manning Avenue, encountered wind, and banked. The airplane subsequently descended during the turn and impacted terrain in a field south of 40th Street and east of Manning Avenue. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector interviewed the pilot in a physical rehabilitation center. The pilot indicated that he did not recall anything regarding the accident flight. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The 39-year-old pilot held a FAA private pilot certificate with airplane single engine land and instrument ratings. The pilot held a third-class medical certificate issued to him on February 1, 2010, without limitations. An endorsement in his logbook showed that he completed a flight review on March 2, 2009 and that he completed an instrument competency check on September 3, 2009. The last entry in the pilot's logbook was dated December 18, 2009, and his total recorded flight time was 446.9 hours. A family member supplied a list of flights that the pilot was reported to have taken between January 6 and August 15, 2010. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION N333HK was an experimental amateur-built Kwech GLASAIR RG SUPER 11S, single-engine, low-wing, retractable tri-cycle landing gear, two-place airplane, with serial number 2313. A Lycoming IO-360-B1E engine, rated at 205-horsepower, with serial number L-11581-51A, custom built by DeMars Aero LTD, powered the airplane. Maintenance records for the airplane were requested and were not located. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION At 1553, the recorded weather at the St. Paul Downtown Airport / Holman Field, near St Paul, Minnesota, about 240 degrees and 10 miles from the accident site, was: Wind 300 degrees at 19 knots gusting to 28 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, sky condition broken 3,400 feet, overcast 4,300 feet, temperature 16 degrees C, dew point 9 degrees C, altimeter 29.94 inches of mercury. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The airplane wreckage came to rest in a field about one half mile north of the departure runway. Pictures of the wreckage path showedthat the propeller separated from the engine and the engine separated from the fuselage. The propeller and engine were found in the northwest portion of the debris field and the airframe in the southeast portion of the debris field. The propeller had chordwise abrasion and leading edge nicks on its blades. The fuselage exhibited deformation and crushing consistent with substantial damage. FAA Inspectors examined the wreckage and did not find any pre-impact anomalies. TESTS AND RESEARCH The engine was recovered and sent to a local fixed base operator for a test run. Damaged parts that included a cracked oil sump, a magneto with a broken flange, a fuel injector line, and damaged ignition leads were replaced with exemplar parts. The engine was installed in a test cell and it was observed by the National Transportation Safety Board Investigator In Charge to be operational during the test run. The damaged magneto was mounted on a lathe and it produced spark when the lathe rotated. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N333HK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N333HK-2013-11-04), registration cancelled 2013-11-04, S/N 2313, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: KWECH GLASAIR RG SUPER 11S - Registry model: [Kwech Horst GLASAIR RG SUPER 11S](https://openairdocs.org/model/kwech-horst-glasair-rg-super-11s) (registry code 05626TP) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 2313 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-B1E 205 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: AID, Lake Elmo, MN - Destination: PWC, Pine River, MN - Flight plan: IFR - Airport: AID, Lake Elmo Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 2, 2009; flight hours: 447 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 19 knots, gusting 28 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,400 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: STP, 10 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 20100903045289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100903045289A), Sep 3, 2010: Kwech Horst GLASAIR RG, Lake Elmo, MN, Destroyed. Pilot took off of runway 32 at 21D and for an unknown reason, turned a right downwind and then lost control crashed 100 yards north of airport in a bean field.… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 13, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=77203. 3.9 MB in all. - Witness Interview Excerpts from the Washington County Sheriff Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40342894&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Interview%20Excerpts%20from%20the%20Washington%20County%20Sheriff%20Accident%20Report-Master.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports - Excerpts from the pilot's logbook (item 2, .PDF, 190 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40343030&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports%20-%20Excerpts%20from%20the%20pilot%27s%20logbook-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports - List supplied by the pilot's father of flights the pilot performed (item 3, .PDF, 256 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40343032&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports%20-%20List%20supplied%20by%20the%20pilot%27s%20father%20of%20flights%20the%20pilot%20performed-Master.PDF - Photos (item 4, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40343031&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Forms (item 5, .PDF, 977 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40343040&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Forms-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.