# NTSB CEN17LA327: Greene R/Greene S Rans S 17, N117BE, Erie, CO, August 22, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 21, 2017, 18:45 local (Aug 22, 2017, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Erie, CO - Coordinates: 40.010276, -105.048057 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0103&lon=-105.0481&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95878 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA327 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95878/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95878 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA327 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control following a rejected takeoff for a perceived loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of training and experience in the airplane. ## 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 · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Greene R/Greene S RANS S-17, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05902XR), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Greene R/Greene S RANS S-17, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=05902XR), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Greene R/Greene S RANS S-17, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?model=05902XR), [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Greene R/Greene S RANS S-17, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md?model=05902XR), [All aircraft, 126 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md) - [Training: training with equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031530): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Greene R/Greene S RANS S-17, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031530/cases.md?model=05902XR), [All aircraft, 32 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031530/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Greene R/Greene S RANS S-17, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=05902XR), [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. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Greene R/Greene S RANS S-17, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05902XR), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Greene R/Greene S RANS S-17, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=05902XR), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Greene R/Greene S RANS S-17, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05902XR), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Greene R/Greene S RANS S-17, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05902XR), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The noncertificated pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane reported that, during the initial climb, the engine did not seem to be producing full power, so he attempted to reject the takeoff and land back on the runway. During the landing, the wind pushed the airplane to the right, the left wing rose, and the right wing contacted the ground. The airplane spun around and came to rest upright. The pilot had not flown since 2010 and had no more than 2 hours of recent flight experience. The pilot stated that he had checked the spark plugs before the accident flight and thought that he did not properly install the plugs; however, following the accident, the pilot ran the engine several times and the engine appeared to produce power. The wind conditions at the time of the accident would have resulted in a left quartering tailwind during landing. This, coupled with the density altitude of about 7,300 ft, would have significantly decreased the airplane's performance and could have given the perception to the noncertificated, inexperienced pilot that the engine had experienced a partial loss of power. ## Factual narrative On August 21, 2017, about 1845 mountain daylight time, a Rans S-17 airplane, N117BE, ground looped at the Erie Municipal Airport (KEIK), Erie, Colorado. The uncertificated pilot sustained minor injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federals 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 at the time of the accident.According to information provided by the pilot, after departing on runway 15, during the initial climb, the engine did not seem to be producing full power. The pilot reduced engine power, attempted to reject the takeoff, and land back on the runway. Wind pushed the airplane to the right, the left wing rose, and the right wing contacted the ground. The airplane spun around on the ground and came to rest upright. Substantial damage was sustained to the fuselage and right wing. Information, gathered by the responding Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, revealed that the pilot did not possess a pilot certificate. In addition, the pilot had not flown since 2010, and had no more than 2 hours of recent flight experience. The pilot stated that he had checked the spark plugs before the accident flight. He felt that he did not properly install the plugs. Following the accident, the pilot ran the engine several times and the engine appeared to produce power. A review of meteorological data revealed that the density altitude at the time of the accident was about 7,300 ft. At the accident time, the automated weather reporting facility at KEIK reported a wind from 040° at 3 knots. The wind would have been a left quartering tailwind. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N117BE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N117BE-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 1202040 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GREENE R/GREENE S RANS S 17 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Greene R/Greene S RANS S-17](https://openairdocs.org/model/greene-r-greene-s-rans-s-17) (registry code 05902XR) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 447](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-447) (registry code 55576, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1202040 - Engines: ROTAX 447 416 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: EIK, Erie, CO - Destination: EIK, Erie, CO - Airport: EIK, Erie Muni, runway 15, 4,700 × 60 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 80; injuries: minor; seat: single; flight hours: 2 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: KEIK ## 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 20170821015859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170821015859A), Aug 21, 2017: Greene R/Greene S RANS S-17, Erie, CO, Substantial damage. On 08/21/2017 at 1845 MDT, N117BE, a rans S-17 light sport airplane, impacted the ground at Erie municipal airport (eik). There was one person on board, who… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 11, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95878. 820 KB in all. - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461860&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461861&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF - Density Altitude Chart (item 3, .PDF, 716 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461862&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Density%20Altitude%20Chart-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.