# NTSB CEN23LA009: Yates Mike E Roaring Eagle, N181MY, Stanwood, IA, October 9, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 9, 2022, 11:20 local (16:20 UTC) - Place: Stanwood, IA - Coordinates: 41.888757, -91.152133 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8888&lon=-91.1521&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 106093 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106093/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106093 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA009 ## Probable cause The pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack in the traffic pattern, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of airplane control at too low of an altitude to recover. Contributing to the accident was the partial loss of engine power due to improper management of the fuel system. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel pressure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022844): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Yates Mike E ROARING EAGLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022844/cases.md?model=05638RB), [All aircraft, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022844/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Yates Mike E ROARING EAGLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=05638RB), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Yates Mike E ROARING EAGLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=05638RB), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Yates Mike E ROARING EAGLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05638RB), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Yates Mike E ROARING EAGLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05638RB), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Yates Mike E ROARING EAGLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05638RB), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Yates Mike E ROARING EAGLE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05638RB), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was performing a test flight in the experimental airplane after completing a modification to the pitch control system. While on downwind to land at the private airstrip, the engine lost partial power. During the base to final turn, about 300 ft above ground level, the airplane exceeded its critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of airplane control at an altitude too low to allow for recovery. The airplane impacted a cornfield short of the private airstrip and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot stated that the partial loss of engine power was due to an excessive fuel pressure to the carburetor because he forgot to open a valve that bypassed fuel around the fuel pump that is used for engine priming and starting. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N181MY](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N181MY-2023-03-08), registration cancelled 2023-03-08, S/N MB5137, built 2020 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: YATES MIKE E ROARING EAGLE - Registry model: [Yates Mike E ROARING EAGLE](https://openairdocs.org/model/yates-mike-e-roaring-eagle) (registry code 05638RB) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-series) (registry code 42389, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: MB5137 - Year built: 2020 - Airframe hours: 11.5 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 20, 2022 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: PVT, Pvt - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 22, 2022; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 515 total, 11 in this make and model, 450 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KCID, 26 nm away - METAR: KCID 091652Z 23007KT 10SM CLR 19/03 A3012 RMK AO2 SLP201 T01890033 ## 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 20221009017359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221009017359A), Oct 9, 2022: Mike E Yates ROARING EAGLE, Stanwood, IA, Destroyed. 2Nd flight of aircraft, fuel pump bypass valve was left in the off position resulting in loss of power, due to engine flooding. Lack of familiarity with the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106093. 5.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14607736&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation pilot/owner/builder (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14607083&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20Pilot%20Owner-Rel.pdf - Fuel system drawing (provided by pilot/owner/builder) (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 329 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14607169&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2022-10-13%20N181MY%20Fuel%20System%20Drawing-Rel.pdf - Accident photograph (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 297 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14607604&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.