# NTSB CEN14LA411: Hanson Lonn Avid Amphibian, N4118X, Waterville, MN, August 2, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 2, 2014, 19:51 UTC - Place: Waterville, MN - Coordinates: 44.219089, -93.570571 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2191&lon=-93.5706&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report June 9, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - NTSB case key (mKey): 89826 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA411 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89826/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89826 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA411 ## Probable cause The noncertificated pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control after an inadvertent takeoff, which resulted in collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hanson Lonn AVID AMPHIBIAN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=05626AX), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hanson Lonn AVID AMPHIBIAN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05626AX), [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: [Hanson Lonn AVID AMPHIBIAN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05626AX), [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. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Hanson Lonn AVID AMPHIBIAN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05626AX), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The noncertificated pilot reported that he was testing the amphibious airplane's engine and cooling system while maneuvering the airplane on a nearby lake. He added that he had "no intent to fly." The pilot completed a number of passes across the lake. Before the last pass, he input full flaps, which resulted in the airplane inadvertently becoming airborne and climbing to about 100 ft. The pilot attempted to steer away from trees, but he lost control of the airplane, which then impacted terrain. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies. ## Factual narrative On August 2, 2014, about 1100 central daylight time, an Avid Amphibian, N4118X, impacted a lake after an inadvertent takeoff. The non-certificated pilot received serious injuries and the passenger was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the non-certificated pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan had been filed. The non-certificated pilot reported he drove the airplane to a nearby lake to "drive it like a boat" to test the engine and cooling system. The pilot did not hold an aircraft mechanics license and the airplane was not current with airworthiness inspections. The pilot stated he "had no intent to fly." The pilot made four passes across the lake and reported the engine was operating well but was overheating; he had to turn the engine off to cool after each pass. For the last pass, the pilot input full flaps to "see if it would get the plane faster" to assist in cooling. The airplane became airborne and climbed above 100 feet. The pilot attempted to "steer" away from trees but "could not make the airplane turn." He was unable to control the airplane; he cut the throttle and impacted terrain. According to a post-accident examination by an FAA inspector, there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane. In the pilot's written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board he noted that the accident might have been prevented if he had solicited a certificated pilot or mechanic to test the engine or he had received pilot training to be proficient when the airplane took off. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4118X](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4118X), registered now, S/N 117A, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HANSON LONN AVID AMPHIBIAN (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Hanson Lonn AVID AMPHIBIAN](https://openairdocs.org/model/hanson-lonn-avid-amphibian) (registry code 05626AX) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 117A - Year built: 1994 - Airframe hours: 344 - Engines: Rotax 618 74 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: Waterville, MN - Destination: Waterville, MN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; injuries: minor; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 0 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 as pilot in command, 0 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KACQ, 9 nm away ## 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 20140802012399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140802012399A), Aug 2, 2014: Hanson Lonn AVID AMPHIBIAN, Janesville, MN, Substantial damage. According to the operator's statement, he was intending to perform taxi tests only with the amphibious aircraft on reeds lake near waseca, MN. While performing… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 6, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89826. 643 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 643 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40425865&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.