CEN14CA189

NTSB accident investigation · Belisle Thomas J RV7A · New Iberia, LA · April 5, 2014

Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
April 5, 2014, 15:00 local (20:00 UTC)
Place
New Iberia, LA
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Approach
Aircraft
N119TBBelisle Thomas J RV7A
Defining event
Approach: Loss of control in flight
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report June 18, 2014
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
FAA FSDO
FAA report
20140405005779A
Case key
89014

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's loss of control due to a temporary incapacitation.

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 pilot planned on a long cross-country flight. According to the pilot, he made a fuel stop and got something to eat and drink, and then continued the flight. As he approached his next stop, he reported that he contacted the tower controller, who cleared him for a right base for the runway. The airplane approached the runway, flew about 1,000 feet down the runway, and then drifted off to the right. The airplane then flew across a parallel taxiway, made a right turn, and impacted terrain, just east of the runway. The pilot reported that he did not remember the accident, nor climbing out of the airplane. By the time the first responders arrived, he was able to walk around the airplane and waved to them to indicate that he was not injured. He added that the last thing he remembered, was making the approach, and then looking at the wrecked airplane. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage. The airplane was not equipped with carbon monoxide detectors, however, the heat exchanger had been removed and the ports plugged, and no indications that carbon monoxide had leaked into the cabin. The examination did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, the pilot reported no problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The pilot added that he was given several tests at the hospital, but doctors told him it was probably due to dehydration.

Factual narrative

The pilot planned on a long cross-country flight. According to the pilot, he made a fuel stop and got something to eat and drink, and then continued the flight. As he approached his next stop, he reported that he contacted the tower controller, who cleared him for a right base for the runway. The airplane approached the runway, flew about 1,000 feet down the runway, and then drifted off to the right. The airplane then flew across a parallel taxiway, made a right turn, and impacted terrain, just east of the runway. The pilot reported that he did not remember the accident, nor climbing out of the airplane. By the time the first responders arrived, he was able to walk around the airplane and waved to them to indicate that he was not injured. He added that the last thing he remembered, was making the approach, and then looking at the wrecked airplane. Examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage. The airplane was not equipped with carbon monoxide detectors, however, the heat exchanger had been removed and the ports plugged, and no indications that carbon monoxide had leaked into the cabin. The examination did not reveal any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Additionally, the pilot reported no problems with the airplane prior to the accident. The pilot added that he was given several tests at the hospital, but doctors told him it was probably due to dehydration.

Aircraft

Registration
N119TB
Reported as
Belisle Thomas J RV7A
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
71612
Built
2010
Engine
Lycoming O-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Departed
Cross City, FL
Destination
Fort Stockton, CA
Airport
KARA · Acadiana Regional, runway 34, 8,002 × 200 ft, concrete

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
72
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Left

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
70° at 9 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
2,900 ft overcast
Temperature
9 °F, dew point 48 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
KARA

Docket · 2

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 13, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 639 KB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.