- Date
- September 10, 2005, 09:45 local (13:45 UTC)
- Place
- Buchanan, MI
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N54BXKeith Avid Amphibian
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 31, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20050910027289A
- Case key
- 62620
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the unsuitable terrain for landing encountered by the pilot. A factor was the power lines.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The amateur-built amphibian airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted a power line and terrain during a forced landing after a loss of power following a water takeoff. The pilot reported that he performed a complete preflight and that the engine was running "extremely well." The tachometer was reading 6,500 RPM and all temperatures were in the normal range during climbout. He did a crosswind turn at 300 feet above ground level to stay in the pattern for another water landing. He reported that 10 seconds after the turn, the engine stopped. The pilot reported that there was no indication of any engine problem before the engine stopped. He reported, "It acted as though the ignition switch was turned off." The on-site inspection of the engine did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies.
Factual narrative
On September 10, 2005, at 0945 eastern daylight time, an amateur-built Keith Avid Amphibian, N54BX, sustained substantial damage when it impacted a power line and terrain during a forced landing after a loss of power following a water takeoff near Buchanan, Michigan. The private pilot received minor injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight departed Niles, Michigan, at 0900 on a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed.
The pilot reported that he performed a complete preflight and that the engine was running "extremely well." He reported that the tachometer was reading 6,500 RPM and all temperatures were in the normal range during climbout. He did a crosswind turn at 300 feet above ground level to stay in the pattern for another water landing. He reported that 10 seconds after the turn, the engine stopped. The pilot reported that there was no indication of any engine problem before the engine stopped. He reported, "It acted as though the ignition switch was turned off."
The on-site inspection of the engine did not reveal any pre-impact anomalies.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N54BX
- Reported as
- Keith Avid Amphibian
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 54A
- Engine
- Rotax 582, 68 hp, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Larry Fisher
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- 3TR · Niles, MI
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 49
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Sport pilot
- Flight hours
- 1,100 total · 10 in this make and model · 15 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.