# NTSB CEN19LA175: Flightstar FC-II, N354AR, Knoxville, TN, June 18, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 18, 2019, 08:47 local (12:47 UTC) - Place: Knoxville, TN - Coordinates: 35.96389, -83.873611 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9639&lon=-83.8736&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 99665 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19LA175 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99665/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99665 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA175 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Flightstar FCII, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=05901QB), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Flightstar FCII, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05901QB), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated the engine quit during flight, so he landed the airplane in a river and swam ashore. The airplane was submerged for more than 24-hours before being recovered. After recovery the airframe and engine were examined, but water, impact, and recovery damage inhibited thorough examinations. The fuel system was completely contaminated by water, and it could not be determined if fuel was present at the time of the accident. Examination of the electrical system could not be performed due to water damage. No obvious mechanical anomalies with the airframe or engine were found, and the reason for the reported loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On June 18, 2019, about 0847 eastern daylight time, a Flightstar FC-II, N354AR, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Knoxville, Tennessee. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was being operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot was conducting a flight near the Sky Ranch Airport (TN98), Knoxville, Tennessee, when the engine quit. He landed the airplane in the Tennessee River, exited the airplane, and swam ashore. After the accident, the pilot commented to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that he landed the airplane in the water due to electrical and engine problems. The FAA inspector who examined the airplane after its recovery reported that the airplane was submerged in turbulent water for more than 24 hours and was mostly destroyed either by water impact or recovery damage. The fuel system was completely contaminated by water, and it could not be determined if fuel was present at the time of the accident. Examinations of the electrical system could not be performed due to the water damage. Other than the severe impact and recovery damage, no obvious mechanical anomalies were observed with the airframe or engine. The pilot did not submit a National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N354AR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N354AR-2019-11-25), registration cancelled 2019-11-25, S/N 220, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FLIGHTSTAR FC-II - Registry model: [Flightstar FCII](https://openairdocs.org/model/flightstar-fcii) (registry code 05901QB) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582dcdi) (registry code 55562, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 220 - Year built: 1998 - Engines: Rotax 60 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Odendaal Martin J - Registered owner: Odendaal Martin J - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Departed: TN98, Knoxville, TN - Destination: Same as departure ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 200 total, 100 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: TYS, 10 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 20190618007499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190618007499A), Jun 18, 2019: Flightstar FCII, Knoxville, TN, Substantial damage. The pilot/owner was operating his aircraft on a pleasure flight. While returning to his home base (TN98) sky ranch airpark located in alcoa Tennessee the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 17, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99665. 4.5 MB in all. - Knoxville police report CEN19LA175 (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11683537&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Knoxville%20Police%20Report%20CEN19LA175_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record airframe and engine examination findings CEN19LA175 (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11683604&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Examination%20Findings%20CEN19LA175_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record post-accident contact with pilotowner CEN19LA175 (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11683908&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Post-Accident%20Contact%20with%20PilotOwner%20CEN19LA175_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Video of airplane flying into the river CEN19LA175 (item 4, AVI, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11683449&FileExtension=avi&FileName=Video%20of%20Airplane%20Flying%20into%20the%20River%20CEN19LA175-Rel.avi 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.