# NTSB CEN11CA486: Hamlin John D CH701, N9040W, Paxton, IL, July 16, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 16, 2011, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Paxton, IL - Coordinates: 40.448612, -88.127777 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4486&lon=-88.1278&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 20, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-SPI-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 81160 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11CA486 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81160/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81160 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11CA486 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to takeoff with a tailwind in high density altitude conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation: performance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hamlin John D CH701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md?model=05610KI), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design: runway/landing area condition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Hamlin John D CH701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md?model=05610KI), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017035/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Hamlin John D CH701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=05610KI), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Hamlin John D CH701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?model=05610KI), [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Hamlin John D CH701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05610KI), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Hamlin John D CH701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05610KI), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during departure with a slight, quartering tailwind, the airplane did not continue climbing or gain altitude due to the high density altitude. The airplane started to descend and he realized that he would not clear the powerlines at the end of the runway, so he banked the airplane to the left and made a hard landing in the grass which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall, lower forward fuselage, and rudder. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that the airplane did not gain enough altitude on takeoff to clear powerlines near the end of the runway. He banked the airplane to the left and made a hard landing in grass, which resulted in substantial damage to the firewall, lower forward fuselage, and rudder. The takeoff was made to the north with a slight quartering tailwind on an up-sloping runway. The field elevation was approximately 755 feet, with an outside temperature of 86 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point of 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure of 30.07 inches of Mercury resulting in a density altitude of approximately 2,778 feet. The airplane was powered by a 65 horsepower engine and the pilot calculated the gross weight of the airplane to be near the maximum gross weight. The pilot reported there were no mechanical failures/malfunctions with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9040W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9040W-2017-09-08), registration cancelled 2017-09-08, S/N 3978, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HAMLIN JOHN D CH701 - Registry model: [Hamlin John D CH701](https://openairdocs.org/model/hamlin-john-d-ch701) (registry code 05610KI) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 3978 - Airframe hours: 363 - Engines: CONT MOTOR A65 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Shawn D, Bennett - Registered owner: Hamlin John D - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 25, 2010, 37 hours before - Departed: 1C1, Paxton, IL - Destination: PRG, Paris, IL - Airport: 1C1, Paxton Airport, runway 36, 3,409 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; flight hours: 87 total, 47 in this make and model, 53 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 225° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 12,000 ft - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg ## 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 20110716015099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110716015099A), Jul 16, 2011: Hamlin John D CH701, Paxton, IL, Substantial damage. The pilot reported that the aircraft lost power on takeoff. Pilot aborted takeoff and landed in grass beyond the runway. The nose gear collapsed on landing. ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 7, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81160. 520 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 520 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40352968&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.