# NTSB CEN21LA045: Just SuperSTOL, N339PW, Edgard, LA, November 5, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 5, 2020, 14:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Edgard, LA - Coordinates: 30.034, -90.554 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0340&lon=-90.5540&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 102249 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA045 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102249/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102249 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA045 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined with the available information. ## 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: [James C Cunningham JR JUST ACFT SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05632NB), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined; cases with it: [James C Cunningham JR JUST ACFT SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=05632NB), [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. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [James C Cunningham JR JUST ACFT SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05632NB), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [James C Cunningham JR JUST ACFT SUPERSTOL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05632NB), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings when the engine lost power while the airplane was on final approach, at an altitude of about 150 ft above the ground. The pilot was able to restore engine power, but it was “too late to slow [the] descent” and avoid a hard landing. The right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot noted the importance of maintaining airspeed “even in [an] emergency engine failure”. A postaccident examination revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operations. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined with the available information. ## Factual narrative On November 5, 2020, about 1430 central standard time, a Just Aircraft SuperSTOL airplane, N339PW, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Edgard, Louisiana. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The student pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings when the engine lost power while the airplane was on final approach at an altitude of about 150 ft above ground level. According to the pilot, the airplane’s nose “dipped immediately.” The pilot was able to restore engine power, but it was “too late to slow [the] descent” and avoid a hard landing. During the hard landing, the right wing separated from the fuselage at the root, the right-wing strut buckled, and the main landing gear collapsed. In the National Transportation Safety Board’s Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report form, the pilot noted the importance of maintaining airspeed “even in [an] emergency engine failure.” Both the left and right-wing fuel tanks appeared to have been compromised. No fuel was recovered from the left-wing tank; about 1 gallon of fuel was recovered from the right-wing tank. The fuel lines appeared to be intact. Both carburetors appeared undamaged. The carburetor bowls contained trace amounts of uncontaminated fuel. Internal engine continuity was confirmed via rotation of the crankshaft. Engine control continuity was confirmed. No anomalies with respect to the engine or the airframe fuel system were observed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N339PW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N339PW-2022-02-05), registration cancelled 2022-02-05, S/N JA271-08-12, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Just Aircraft SuperSTOL - Registry model: [James C Cunningham JR JUST ACFT SUPERSTOL](https://openairdocs.org/model/james-c-cunningham-jr-just-acft-superstol) (registry code 05632NB) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: JA271-08-12 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 301 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 26, 2020, 15 hours before - Departed: LS40, New Orleans, LA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: PVT, Private - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 7, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 70 total, 63 in this make and model, 50 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 25 °F, dew point 14 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: APS, 2 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 20201105015459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201105015459A), Nov 5, 2020: James C Cunningham Jr JUST ACFT SUPERSTOL, Edgard, LA, Substantial damage. Pilot was doing touch & go's in a field, when he pulled the throttle back the engine quit. Pilot stated that he was able to restart the engine but it was to… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 13, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102249. 8.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 657 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11841477&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Report%20--%20CEN21LA045_redacted-Rel.pdf - Conversation summary -- pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 153 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11879459&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20Antonie%20Lanaux%20--%2017Nov2020-Rel.pdf - Conversation summary -- recovery operator (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 156 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11954341&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20TW%20Cook%20--%2004Feb2021-Rel.pdf - Accident photos (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11840581&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20--%20CEN21LA045-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (excerpt) (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11842012&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20(Excerpt)%20--%20CEN21LA045_redacted-Rel.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.