# NTSB CEN12LA407: Fields Mike Hawk SSC, N163F, Evansville, IN, June 29, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 29, 2012, 08:00 local (13:00 UTC) - Place: Evansville, IN - Coordinates: 38.016666, -87.591667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0167&lon=-87.5917&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report March 13, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84143 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA407 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84143/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84143 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA407 ## Probable cause The operation of an airplane by a non-certificated pilot, and the pilot's loss of control during takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and spin. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Fields Mike HAWK SSC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=059040D), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Fields Mike HAWK SSC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=059040D), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Fields Mike HAWK SSC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=059040D), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Fields Mike HAWK SSC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=059040D), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis The non-certificated pilot reported that during the initial climb after takeoff, he heard a loud “pop” and then the airplane began to shake. The pilot lost control of the airplane, which entered a spin and impacted terrain. The pilot reported a potential propeller defect; however, a postaccident examination did not detect any preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The source of the loud “pop” could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On June 29, 2012, about 0800 central daylight time, a kit-built Hawk SSC light sport airplane, N163F, collided with terrain near Evansville, Indiana. The non-certificated pilot was seriously injured. Substantial damage was sustained to the airplane's wings and fuselage. The airplane was registered to and operated by private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local flight was originating from the Skylane Airport (K3EV), Evansville, Indiana, at the time of the accident. According to a statement provided by the pilot, on initial takeoff, approximately 250 feet above ground level, he heard a loud “pop" from the back of the airplane and the airplane began to vibrate violently. The airplane shook violently before it began to spiral to the ground. The pilot later reported that his flight experience was consistent with a failure of his Warp Drive propeller. The airplane had been partially disassembled before the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was notified of the accident. An examination of the airframe by a responding FAA inspector had found the propeller secured in the propeller hub. No anomalies were detected with the airframe, engine, or propeller. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N163F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N163F-2018-01-11), registration cancelled 2018-01-11, S/N H-SSC-424-503-TRI, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FIELDS MIKE HAWK SSC - Registry model: [Fields Mike HAWK SSC](https://openairdocs.org/model/fields-mike-hawk-ssc) (registry code 059040D) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503 DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-dcdi) (registry code 55566, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: H-SSC-424-503-TRI - Airframe hours: 170 - Engines: ROTAX 503 DCDI 52 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Private Individual - Registered owner: Fields Mike J - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 22, 2010 - Departed: K3EV, Evansville, IN - Destination: K3EV, Evansville, IN - Airport: K3EV, Skylane Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: serious; seat: single; flight hours: 25 total, 10 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: KEVV ## 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 20120629013959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120629013959A), Jun 29, 2012: Fields Mike HAWK SSC, Evansville, IN, Destroyed. A Hawk Ssc experimental light sport aircraft, N163F, took off from skylane airport, a grass strip near Evansville, IN. The aircraft flew approximately a half… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 30, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84143. 817 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 792 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40385332&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Correspondence with responding FAA inspector (item 2, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40385335&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence%20with%20responding%20FAA%20inspector-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.