# NTSB CEN18LA027: Riggs Kenneth W T Bird II, N618ER, St Mary's, KS, November 5, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 5, 2017, 11:40 local (17:40 UTC) - Place: St Mary's, KS - Coordinates: 39.197498, -96.073333 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1975&lon=-96.0733&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report April 9, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 96300 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA027 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96300/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96300 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA027 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to a propeller failure when the passenger’s hat exited the cockpit and impacted the three-bladed pusher propeller, separating one of the propeller blades. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause) - [Propeller system: propeller blade section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046111): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Not specified (probable cause) ## Analysis The private pilot and passenger planned on a short flight around the traffic pattern in an open-cockpit, light sport airplane. Shortly after takeoff, as the pilot turned downwind, he heard a "crack," and the engine started to vibrate and lose power. The pilot applied power, but the engine did not respond. He turned sharply left and then tried to stop the turn and descend, but the airplane continued to turn and descend until it impacted terrain. A witness saw two objects fall from the airplane shortly after the engine sound "stopped." Both objects were retrieved. The first object was the passenger's knitted hat, the top of which was "chewed up" and had a line burnt/melted into it. The other object was one of the propeller blades. The accident is consistent with the passenger's hat exiting the cockpit and impacting the three-bladed pusher propeller, which led to the separation of one of the propeller blades and the subsequent loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On November 5, 2017, about 1140 central standard time, a T-Bird II airplane, N618ER, impacted terrain near St. Marys, Kansas. The pilot and passenger received serious injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged during the accident. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The pilot reported that he and the owner of the airplane planned to take the airplane for a flight around the traffic pattern to see if they were clothed warmly enough for another flight. They departed from runway 36, climbed to about 1,000 ft, and turned left for the downwind when they heard a loud "crack" and the engine started to vibrate. To avoid powerlines, the pilot applied power, but the engine did not respond. He turned sharply left, adding that he tried to stop the turn and decent; however, the elevators and ailerons did not respond. The airplane continued to turn and dropped rapidly, until it impacted a ravine. A neighbor reported that she saw something "flutter" into a tree and something fell when the engine sound "stopped". The object in the tree was retrieved and was the passenger's knitted hat. The top of the hat was "chewed up" and had an area in the shape of a line, burnt/melted in it. The object that fell in the yard was also retrieved and was one of airplane's propeller blades. An examination of the airplane found substantial damage to the fuselage, and one blade from the three-bladed pusher propeller had separated from the propeller hub. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338) (defining event) - [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N618ER](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N618ER-2018-12-19), registration cancelled 2018-12-19, S/N 90062000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RIGGS KENNETH W T BIRD II (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Riggs Kenneth W T-BIRD II](https://openairdocs.org/model/riggs-kenneth-w-t-bird-ii) (registry code 05612X7) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 90062000 - Airframe hours: 159.2 - Engines: Rotax reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 9, 2017 - Departed: St Mary's, KS - Destination: St Mary's, KS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 18, 2017; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,054 total, 3 in this make and model, 1,593 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 12 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,400 ft broken - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: KTOP, 20 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 20171105018279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20171105018279A), Nov 5, 2017: Riggs Kenneth W T-BIRD II, St. Marys, KS, Substantial damage. On November 5, 2017, N618ER departed from a private grass airfield in St. Marys, Kansas on a part 91 flight in the local area. According to the pilot and… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 15, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96300. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 458 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460161&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (item 2, .PDF, 3 photos, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460162&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.