# NTSB CEN21LA372: Flying K Enterprises Sky Raider, N56179, Augusta, KS, August 15, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 15, 2021, 16:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Augusta, KS · field
- Coordinates: 37.740928, -96.984266
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7409&lon=-96.9843&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA Flight Standards
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103715
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA372
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103715/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103715
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA372

## Probable cause

A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not determined based on available information.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Manley Alan E SKYRAIDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05611Z6), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Manley Alan E SKYRAIDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05611Z6), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Manley Alan E SKYRAIDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=05611Z6), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Manley Alan E SKYRAIDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05611Z6), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Manley Alan E SKYRAIDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05611Z6), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that the engine power decreased about 1,000 rpm during initial climb after takeoff. Shortly afterward, the engine speed decreased to “almost nothing” but the engine did not quit altogether. The pilot lowered the nose but was only able to gain sufficient airspeed to “flatten the descent” before impact. The airplane came to rest upright in an open field with damage to the lower fuselage. A postrecovery engine examination did not identify any anomalies consistent with an inability to produce rated power. The engine had been removed from the airframe, and the wings removed from the fuselage to facilitate recovery from the accident site and initial repairs. As a result, a comprehensive examination of the airframe fuel system could not be conducted. The engine utilized dual, slide-type carburetors, which are unlikely to accumulate ice.

## Factual narrative

On August 15, 2021, about 1630 central daylight time, a Flying K Enterprises Sky Raider airplane, N56179 was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Augusta, Kansas. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported the preflight inspection, engine start, taxi runs, and run-up were normal. The takeoff ground run was about 250 ft, and the pilot established an initial climb at 50 mph. Shortly afterward, the engine speed dropped from 6,000 rpm to about 5,000 rpm. He lowered the nose and entered a shallow turn toward a field, the engine speed dropped to “almost nothing” but it did not quit altogether. About 150 ft above ground level, the pilot lowered the nose further but was only able to gain sufficient airspeed to “flatten the descent” before impact. The airplane came to rest upright in an open field. Both main landing gear collapsed, and the lower fuselage was damaged resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. A postaccident engine examination did not identify any anomalies consistent with an inability to produce rated power. The engine had been removed from the airframe, and the wings removed from the fuselage to facilitate recovery from the accident site and initial repairs. As a result, a comprehensive examination of the airframe fuel system could not be conducted. The engine utilized dual, slide-type carburetors which are unlikely to accumulate ice.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N56179](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56179-2024-01-27), registration cancelled 2024-01-27, S/N 74, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Flying K Enterprises Sky Raider
- Registry model: [Manley Alan E SKYRAIDER](https://openairdocs.org/model/manley-alan-e-skyraider) (registry code 05611Z6) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 74
- Year built: 2002
- Airframe hours: 336.8
- Engines: Rotax 503 DCDI 52 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, September 5, 2018, 37.3 hours before
- Departed: PVT, Augusta, KS
- Destination: PVT, Augusta, KS
- Airport: N/A, N/A, runway N/A, 1,500 × 30 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 693; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review January 1, 2020; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 400 total, 35 in this make and model, 350 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: 3AU, 4 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 20210815014339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210815014339A), Aug 15, 2021: Manley Alan E SKYRAIDER, Towanda, KS, Substantial damage. After extensive engine run up, engine failed just after takeoff. Rpms dropped to about 5K, which produced stable flight. Pilot decided to return to runway, but…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 8, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103715. 6.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15418081&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Report%20--%20CEN21LA372_redacted-Rel.pdf
- Accident photos (item 2, PDF, 7 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15417937&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20%20--%20CEN21LA372-Rel.pdf
- Examination summary (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 120 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15424804&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Examination%20Summary%20--%20CEN21LA372-Rel.pdf
- FAA SAIB CE-09-35 -- carburetor icing prevention (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 134 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15431113&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20SAIB%20(FAA%20CE-09-35)-Rel.pdf
- Carburetor icing -- constant compression, slide-type carburetors (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 490 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15431283&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Article-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.