# NTSB CEN20CA139: Rans S-12 Airaile, Hillrose, CO, April 4, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 4, 2020, 10:44 local (16:44 UTC) - Place: Hillrose, CO - Coordinates: 40.320556, -103.523887 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3206&lon=-103.5239&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report August 27, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration; Denver FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101142 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA139 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101142/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101142 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA139 ## Probable cause The noncertificated pilot's diverted attention while looking at a fire during low-altitude flying, which resulted in a collision with power lines. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) - [Maintenance/inspections](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010500): Aircraft › Aircraft handling/service · Not specified; cases with it: [All aircraft, 103 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01010500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The noncertificated pilot reported that, during a local flight, he noticed an area of smoke and fire near his property. The pilot descended the airplane to about 20 ft above ground level to see what was burning, which diverted his attention from flying. The pilot "immediately" pulled up to avoid power lines, but the airplane struck the lines. The airplane then impacted the ground and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The noncertificated pilot and his son departed in the unregistered experimental airplane (previously N4114G), on a local personal flight from his private airstrip. During the return flight, they noticed an area of smoke and fire near the pilot's property and proceeded to the area for examination. The pilot descended the airplane to an altitude of about 20 ft above ground level to see what was burning, which diverted the pilot's attention. The pilot "immediately" pulled up to avoid powerlines, "but was 2 seconds late," and the airplane struck the powerlines. The pilot report that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operations. ## Aircraft - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: RANS S-12 Airaile - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1290044 - Year built: 1990 - Airframe hours: 505.4 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: Hillrose, CO - Destination: Hillrose, CO - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: serious; flight hours: 680 total, 135 in this make and model, 680 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: FMM, 60 nm away ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101142. 837 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 579 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484951&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Statement (item 2, .PDF, 147 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484949&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photo (item 3, .PDF, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484950&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.