# NTSB CEN18LA301: Flightstar SC II, N953RJ, Painesville, OH, July 27, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 27, 2018, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Painesville, OH - Coordinates: 41.666942, -81.197219 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6669&lon=-81.1972&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Cleveland FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 97930 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA301 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97930/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97930 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA301 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s failure to maintain an airspeed below flight speed during a practice taxi run, which resulted in the airplane inadvertently becoming airborne. Once airborne, the reduced engine power due to an improper propeller pitch setting and carburetor icing degraded the airplane’s performance and prevented the airplane from being able to continue to climb. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Flightstar SC II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05902KU), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Propeller system: propeller blade section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046111): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Flightstar SC II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046111/cases.md?model=05902KU), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046111/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Flightstar SC II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=05902KU), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Flightstar SC II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=05902KU), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Flightstar SC II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=05902KU), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Flightstar SC II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=05902KU), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Flightstar SC II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=05902KU), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Flightstar SC II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05902KU), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Flightstar SC II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05902KU), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Flightstar SC II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05902KU), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot reported that he and his wife owned the accident airplane and had made multiple practice taxi runs on the runway with no intention for flight. During one of the taxi runs, the airplane unexpectedly became airborne. The student determined that there was not enough runway remaining to perform a safe landing, so he chose to continue the takeoff. Once the airplane reached about 100 ft above ground level, it would no longer climb, and he attempted to land in a field; however, the airplane struck trees before reaching the intended field. Before the accident, the student had performed maintenance on the airplane, which included replacing the propeller. He had intended to have a certificated mechanic check his work but had not done so before the accident because there was no intention for flight. He acknowledged that he may not have set the propeller pitch correctly, which could have negatively affected the airplane's performance. In addition, the atmospheric conditions were favorable for moderate icing at cruise power settings and serious icing at descent power settings. Carburetor icing likely accumulated during the multiple taxi runs performed before the unintentional flight. Based on the available information, the airplane inadvertently became airborne because the student allowed it to accelerate to flight speed. The available engine power was likely reduced due to an improper propeller pitch setting and carburetor icing, and both these conditions likely resulted in the airplane's inability to continue to climb. ## Factual narrative On July 27, 2018, about 1645 eastern daylight time, a Flightstar SC II, N953RJ, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain during approach to land on runway 2 at the Concord Airpark (2G1), near Painesville, OH. The student pilot received serious injuries and his passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.The pilot reported that he had purchased the airplane a few months prior to the accident and had performed some repairs in the interim, including replacing a broken propeller. He said that he planned to have the repairs inspected by a certificated mechanic and the airplane had not been flown since its purchase. On the day of the accident, the pilot and his spouse were performing taxi practice with no intention for flight. He said that they were taking turns with the controls. He said that on one of his turns he must have gone too fast and the airplane unexpectedly became airborne. When this happened, the airplane was already 3/4 of the way down the runway and he didn't think there was enough room to land on the remaining runway, so he elected to "go around". The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and maneuvered the airplane to land but struck trees during the attempted landing. In his report the pilot indicated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane. In a telephone conversation the pilot reported that he had set the propeller blade pitch angles based on information from the airplane maintenance records using a digital protractor. He acknowledged that his method of setting the propeller blade angles could have been slightly off. He had intended to have a certified mechanic check his work but that had not been done since he had not intended to fly the airplane when the accident occurred. The weather conditions at the Willoughby Lost Nation Municipal Airport, Willoughby, Ohio, about the time of the accident included a temperature of 23° C, a dew point of 12° C, and an altimeter setting of 29.98 inches of mercury. The carburetor icing susceptibility at these readings is moderate icing at cruise power settings, and serious icing at descent power settings. The calculated density altitude was 2,273 ft. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N953RJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N953RJ-2021-09-04), registration cancelled 2021-09-04, S/N 325, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FLIGHTSTAR SC II - Registry model: [Flightstar SC II](https://openairdocs.org/model/flightstar-sc-ii) (registry code 05902KU) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [HKS 700E](https://openairdocs.org/engine/hks-700e) (registry code 33777, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 325 - Year built: 2001 - Engines: HKS 700E 60 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Departed: 2G1, Painesville, OH - Destination: 2G1, Painesville, OH - Airport: 2G1, Concord Airpark, runway 2, 2,181 × 38 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 21 total, 0 in this make and model, 0 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: LNN, 8 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 20180727018139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180727018139A), Jul 27, 2018: Flightstar Inc SC II, Painesville, OH, Destroyed. Aircraft depart Concord Airpark, during the attepmted return to airport the aircraft struck a tree north of field. Pilot stated that they had no intention on… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 29, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97930. 54 KB in all. - Record of Conversation with Pilot (item 1, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469863&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20with%20Pilot-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.