# NTSB CEN17LA228: Thompson Angel Hawk II, N335JT, Homer, LA, June 9, 2017

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 9, 2017, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place: Homer, LA
- Coordinates: 32.789722, -93.006385 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7897&lon=-93.0064&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 15, 2018
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 95366
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA228
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95366/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95366
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA228

## Probable cause

A total loss of engine power due to the engine’s unresolved high operating temperatures, which resulted in failure of the distributor rotor and drive shaft, and the pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed during the subsequent forced landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Ignition system: magneto/distributor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Thompson David H ANGEL HAWK II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414/cases.md?model=056262U), [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414/cases.md)
- [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Related operating info (probable cause); cases with it: [Thompson David H ANGEL HAWK II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=056262U), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Thompson David H ANGEL HAWK II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=056262U), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Thompson David H ANGEL HAWK II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=056262U), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Thompson David H ANGEL HAWK II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056262U), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Thompson David H ANGEL HAWK II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000/cases.md?model=056262U), [All aircraft, 143 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Thompson David H ANGEL HAWK II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=056262U), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Thompson David H ANGEL HAWK II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056262U), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Approach: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Thompson David H ANGEL HAWK II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=056262U), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Thompson David H ANGEL HAWK II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056262U), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The private pilot reported that, during the accident flight, he planned to take off and circle the experimental, amateur-built airplane above the runway to check engine operation. Just after takeoff, the engine began sputtering. He made a left 180° turn to return to the runway and during the turn, the engine experienced a total loss of power. He stated that the airplane stalled when he was in the turn and he did not have enough time to recover before impacting the ground. The airplane had accumulated about 47 hours of run time and was in the initial flight test stage when the accident occurred. The pilot reported that he had been having trouble with increased cylinder head temperatures on the converted automotive engine. The engine had experienced a total loss of power during a previous flight, but the pilot was able to land the airplane without incident. Following that event, he replaced some ignition system components and adjusted the valves. He was then able to start the engine and reported that it "ran fine" during subsequent test runs. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel mixture was not adjustable in the cockpit. Examination of the engine revealed that there was melted plastic material inside the distributor rotor and the distributor drive shaft. The condition of the spark plugs was consistent with an overly lean fuel mixture and/or high temperature operation. It is likely that the melted distributor rotor was the result of the engine's high operating temperatures; the degradation of the distributor and its drive shaft would have resulted in a shift in ignition timing and a subsequent loss of engine power.

## Factual narrative

On June 9, 2017, about 0830 central daylight time, an amateur built Angel Hawk II airplane, N335JT, collided with terrain during a forced landing near the Homer Municipal Airport (5F4), Homer, Louisiana. The pilot/airplane builder was seriously injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to a private individual and was being operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual flight rules conditions existed near the accident site at the time of the accident, and a flight plan had not been filed for the local flight. The airplane departed 5F4 just before the accident.The pilot reported that he had been having trouble with increased cylinder head temps on the engine, a VW Type 1. During one flight, the engine popped and quit when he was on downwind and he landed the airplane back on the runway. He couldn't get the engine to restart. He replaced some ignition system components and adjusted the valves which were too tight. He was then able to start the engine and it ran fine during run-up tests. The plan for the accident flight was takeoff and circle above the runway to make sure the engine was running ok. Just after takeoff, the engine began sputtering. He made a left 180° turn to return to the runway and during the turn, the engine lost all power. He stated that the airplane stalled when he was in the turn and he did not have enough time to recover before contacting the ground. The engine was originally a Volkswagen 1.6L Type 1, which had been converted by the pilot to a variation of the Volkswagen 1.9L Type 4. The fuel mixture adjustment was pre-set at the carburetor and not adjustable in the cockpit. The ignition system included a single battery, ignition coil, centrifugal advance distributor, points, condenser and one spark plug per cylinder. The lubrication system had an added external sump attached beneath the oil drain with steel braided hose connecting to a "spin-on" type oil filter mounted on the firewall. The engine had about 47 hours of operating time since new. A postaccident examination of the engine was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector. The examination revealed there was melted plastic material inside the distributor rotor and the distributor drive shaft. The inspector reported that the condition of the spark plugs was indicative of a lean fuel mixture/high temperature operation. The engine timing could not be determined.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N335JT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N335JT-2020-09-04), registration cancelled 2020-09-04, S/N 001, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Thompson Angel Hawk II
- Registry model: [Thompson David H ANGEL HAWK II](https://openairdocs.org/model/thompson-david-h-angel-hawk-ii) (registry code 056262U) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 001
- Year built: 2009
- Airframe hours: 47
- Engines: Thompson VW Tape I 70 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2016
- Departed: 5F4, Homer, LA
- Destination: 5F4, Homer, LA
- Airport: 5F4, Homer Municipal Airport

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; injuries: serious; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; last flight review November 2, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 946 total, 47 in this make and model, 800 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.97 inHg
- Observed at: MNE, 19 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 20170609021359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170609021359A), Jun 9, 2017: Thompson David H ANGEL HAWK II, Homer, LA, Substantial damage. Pilot departed in climbout engine began to sputter. Pilot elected to return to field. As pilot was turning engine quit. Aircraft imapcted ground short of…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 12, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95366. 5.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466559&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation (item 2, .PDF, 82 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466560&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF
- Federal Aviation Administration Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 415 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466561&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Federal%20Aviation%20Administration%20Inspector%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Photo - Distributor (item 4, .PDF, 1 photo, 207 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466562&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20-%20Distributor-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.

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