# NTSB CEN10LA064: Krusmark David Homer Searey, N4031, St. Paul, MN, November 28, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 28, 2009, 11:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: St. Paul, 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 engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 75134 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75134/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75134 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA064 ## Probable cause The pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff during the takeoff roll when he became aware of the engine not producing full power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/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 engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During takeoff, the engine never reached full power. While about 18 feet above the runway, the pilot attempted to land. During the attempt, the pilot initiated a steep bank turn in order to avoid an airport perimeter fence. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the ground and came to rest upright. Examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The engine was test run with a slave propeller and the engine developed normal power and RPM. The reason for the loss of partial engine power during takeoff could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On November 28, 2009, at 1145 central standard time, a Krusmark Searay experimental light-sport airplane, sustained minor damage during an aborted takeoff from Lake Elmo Airport, St. Paul, Minnesota. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant and registered owner, sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated he was planning on flying the airplane in the traffic pattern to practice takeoffs and landings. During takeoff from runway 32 (asphalt; 2,850 feet long by 75 feet wide), the engine never reached full power, and the pilot aborted the takeoff approximately 18 feet above the runway. During the attempted landing, the pilot initiated a steep bank turn in order to avoid an airport perimeter fence. Subsequently, the airplane impacted terrain and came to rest upright. The airplane sustained minor damage to the left main landing gear, fuselage, and composite propeller. The pilot sustained fractures to two vertebrae in his neck and back. A review of the airplane's maintenance records showed the airplane underwent its most recent conditional inspection on November 1, 2008. The airframe and engine had accumulated 273 total hours. Examination of the E81 Subaru engine by a local mechanic and the pilot revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The engine was test run with a slave propeller and the engine developed normal power and RPM. The reason for the loss of partial engine power during takeoff could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: N4031 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: KRUSMARK DAVID HOMER SEAREY - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1MK225 - Airframe hours: 273 - Engines: SUBARU ALL MDLS A/B 400 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Graf David R - Registered owner: Graf David R - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 1, 2008 - Departed: 21D, St. Paul, MN - Destination: 21D, St. Paul, MN - Airport: 21D, Lake Elmo Airport, runway 32, 2,850 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review July 20, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 757 total, 33 in this make and model, 664 as pilot in command, 35 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F ## 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 20091128051769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091128051769A), Nov 28, 2009: Krusmark Da SEAREY, St. Paul, MN, Minor damage. Shortly after departure from runway 32 at lake elmo airport, the pilot executed an on-airport forced landing upwind of runway 32. According to the pilot, the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 4, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75134. 326 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 290 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329331&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329333&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-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.