# NTSB CHI01LA262: Grice Avid Flyer, N312GR, Belle Fourche, SD, August 6, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 6, 2001, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Belle Fourche, SD - Coordinates: 44.660602, -103.85057 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6606&lon=-103.8506&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 3, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 52952 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA262 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52952/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA262 ## Probable cause The pilot failed to maintain aircraft control during the forced landing. A factor associated with the accident was the excessive adjustment that the pilot made to the propeller's pitch prior to the flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, takeoff - initial climb - propeller system/accessories - overspeed - maintenance,adjustment - excessive, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,main gear - overload ## Analysis The airplane impacted the terrain during an aborted takeoff. The pilot reported the purpose of the flight was to check the propeller pitch because he had adjusted it. He reported that airplane was "sluggish" during the initial takeoff climb so he leveled off. He reported he checked the engine temperature and rpm, and the engine was close to "over revving." The pilot reported that because he had difficulty maintaining altitude, he decided to abort the takeoff by turning left into the wind so he could land on the grass alongside the runway. The pilot reported the airplane contacted the grass "…with a strong side load on the landing gear." Post accident inspection of the airplane revealed the propeller had been adjusted to too high of a pitch setting. ## Factual narrative On August 6, 2001, at 0830 mountain daylight time, a Grice Avid Flyer, N312GR, collided with the terrain during an aborted takeoff from runway 14 (4,498 feet by 60 feet, asphalt) at the Belle Fourche Municipal Airport, Belle Fourche, South Dakota. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported the purpose of the flight was to check the propeller pitch because he had adjusted it. He reported that airplane was "sluggish" during the initial takeoff climb so he leveled off. He reported he checked the engine temperature and rpm, and the engine was close to "over revving." The pilot reported that because he had difficulty maintaining altitude, he decided to abort the takeoff by turning left into the wind so he could land on the grass alongside the runway. The pilot reported the airplane contacted the grass "…with a strong side load on the landing gear." The main landing gear collapsed during the landing. All three-propeller blades separated from the hub and the fuselage was twisted. Post accident inspection of the airplane revealed the propeller had been adjusted to too high of a pitch setting. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N312GR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N312GR-2010-08-24), registration cancelled 2010-08-24, S/N 1260D, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Grice Avid Flyer - Registry model: [Grice Robert R AVID FLYER](https://openairdocs.org/model/grice-robert-r-avid-flyer) (registry code 05624H6) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1260D - Airframe hours: 173 - Engines: Rotax 583 68 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hal D. Mathews - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 7, 2000, 33 hours before - Departed: EFC, Belle Fourche, SD - Destination: EFC, Belle Fourche, SD - Airport: EFC, Belle Fourche Municipal, runway 14, 4,498 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review December 18, 2000; seat: left; flight hours: 363 total, 123 in this make and model, 337 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: RAP, 55 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 20010806019209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010806019209A), Aug 6, 2001: Amtr AVIDFLYER, Belle Fourche, SD, No damage. (-23) The pilot stated that the ground adjustable propeller was set at too course pitch and was affecting climb performance. He adjusted the propeller to a… 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.