# NTSB CEN14LA281: Offchiss Edward R Avid Flyer, N111ED, Lamoni, IA, June 6, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 5, 2014, 19:00 local (Jun 6, 2014, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Lamoni, IA - Coordinates: 40.633056, -93.901947 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6331&lon=-93.9019&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report October 27, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 89403 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA281 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89403/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89403 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA281 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Offchiss Edward R AVID FLYER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05618H2), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Offchiss Edward R AVID FLYER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05618H2), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Offchiss Edward R AVID FLYER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05618H2), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot stated that, while preparing to land, he lost elevator control. He increased engine power and tried to gain altitude and avoid a stall; however, the airplane stalled and landed hard. The airplane bounced and landed hard again, damaging the landing gear. The airplane continued to slide, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot stated that the control rod for the elevator failed; however, an examination of the control rod and elevator revealed damage associated with the impact and subsequent recovery of the airplane. An examination of the airplane and its systems revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative On June 5, 2014, about 1900 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Avid Flyer airplane, N111ED, was substantially damaged while maneuvering near the Lamoni Municipal Airport (KLWD), Lamoni, Iowa. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The student pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The local flight departed KLWD at 1830. The student pilot stated that while preparing to land on a grass strip, he "pulled [the] lever for the flaperons [and] lost elevator control." He advanced the throttle and tried to "gain altitude" while trying to avoid a stall. The airplane stalled and landed hard. The airplane bounced, landed hard again, at which time the landing gear "broke." The airplane continued to slide and "come apart." The pilot stated that he and his passenger went to the hospital following the accident and an employee of his came with a rollback to recover the wreckage of the airplane. In the accident report form, completed by the pilot, he stated further that a "rod for the elevator broke." The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the accident reported this accident was initially not reported to the FAA or to local law enforcement. The airplane had been cut into 6 or 7 pieces and removed from the accident site before local law enforcement or the FAA were notified of the accident by an anonymous individual. The fuselage, empennage, and wings were substantially damaged during the impact with the ground. The inspector stated further that an examination of the wreckage revealed no anomalies. The damage to the flight controls was related to both impact damage and the recovery efforts. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N111ED](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N111ED-2015-05-20), registration cancelled 2015-05-20, S/N 835, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: OFFCHISS EDWARD R AVID FLYER - Registry model: [Offchiss Edward R AVID FLYER](https://openairdocs.org/model/offchiss-edward-r-avid-flyer) (registry code 05618H2) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 835 - Year built: 1991 - Airframe hours: 527 - Engines: BOMBARDIER/Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 3, 2013 - Departed: KLWD, Lamoni, IA - Destination: KLWD, Lamoni, IA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 36; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 300 total, 6 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: KLWD ## 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 20140605007539A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140605007539A), Jun 5, 2014: Offchiss Edward R AVID FLYER, Lamoni, IA, Destroyed. A student pilot with 7 hours of training took a passenger for a ride. The pilot stated that approximately 15 minutes into the flight he decided to land at… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 22, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89403. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40414271&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 76 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40414272&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-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.