# NTSB CHI06LA190: Armpriest Breezy, N316DA, South Haven, MI, July 15, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 15, 2006, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: South Haven, MI - Coordinates: 42.351112, -86.255554 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3511&lon=-86.2556&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious - Status: Completed, report August 30, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 64223 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06LA190 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64223/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06LA190 ## Probable cause The inadvertent stall by pilot during climb following propeller blade damage from the compartment door separation after takeoff. The low altitude and airspeed not maintained by the pilot were additional causes. Contributing factors were the compartment door separation and the propeller foreign object damage. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - initial climb - door,cargo/baggage - separation (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - propeller system/accessories,blade - foreign object damage (contributing factor) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - not maintained (cause) - altitude - low (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The experimental amateur-built airplane impacted terrain following takeoff. The pilot stated that following the takeoff, there was a pronounced vibration from the engine and he attempted to return to the airport. A witness reported that a compartment cover separated from the airplane during the initial climb from takeoff. Another witness reported seeing a 2 foot square object fall from the airplane after which the airplane appeared to be moving slowly and stalling. The cover was mounted on the airplane between the aft passenger seat and the propeller. Inspection of the accident site revealed that the cover and propeller were both damaged with the cover resting along the flight path and separate from the main wreckage. The cover was attached with two latches and J- hook mechanisms. There was a latch mechanism on the left side and another on the right side of the baggage compartment. The latch assembly could be locked into place using a small pad lock. Both latches were found in the locked position. One J-hook was found intact and the other hook was missing. The airplane had not received a current conditional inspection. ## Factual narrative On July 15, 2006, at 1430 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Armpriest Breezy, N316DA, owned and piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed when it impacted a drainage ditch during an initial climb from takeoff on runway 22 (4,801 feet by 75 feet, asphalt) at South Haven Area Regional Airport (LWA), South Haven, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot sustained serious injuries and the passenger was fatally injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident and was en route to Mishawaka Pilots Club Airport, Elkhart, Indiana. The pilot reported that during takeoff with about "3/4 of the runway gone, there was a pronounced vibration from [the] engine." The pilot stated he pulled the throttle back to idle but a "substantial" vibration was still present. The pilot reported he shut the engine off and attempted to land on runway 14 (3,275 feet by 190 feet, turf) at LWA. The pilot stated he was unaware of what happened that prevented the flight from being safe. A witness reported he saw the airplane flying about 500 feet above ground level at a heading of approximately 320 magnetic degrees. He reported that the nose of the airplane was moving up and down, and the airplane appeared to be moving slow and stalling. He reported that he saw a shiny, dark blue object, about 2 square feet fall from the airplane. He stated that the airplane made a steep left turn and impacted the ground at approximately a 45 degree pitch angle. A second witness reported the airplane departed runway 22 and made a midfield right turn. As the airplane was turning, the witness stated a luggage compartment lid separated from the airplane. The witness stated the airplane turned right about 200 degrees and descended at approximately a 60 degree pitch angle with left wing down. Post accident inspection of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) revealed the baggage compartment cover detached from the airplane while it was in flight. The compartment cover was retrieved between the takeoff point and the airplane's point of impact. The propeller and compartment cover were both damaged. The cover was mounted behind the passenger seat and in front of the engine and propeller. The cover was attached with two latches and J-hook mechanisms. There was a latch mechanism on the left side and another on the right side of the baggage compartment. The latch assembly could be locked into place using a small pad lock. Both latches were found in the locked position. One J-hook was found intact and the other hook was missing. According to the FAA, the airplane had not received a conditional inspection within the required preceding 12-month period prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N316DA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N316DA-2009-02-12), registration cancelled 2009-02-12, S/N 1, built 1982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Armpriest Breezy - Registry model: [Armpriest BREEZY](https://openairdocs.org/model/armpriest-breezy) (registry code 0565083) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Engines: Lycoming 0-320 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: LWA, South Haven, MI - Destination: 3C1, Elkhart, IN - Airport: LWA, South Haven Area Regional, runway 22, 4,801 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: serious; foreign, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2006; seat: front; flight hours: 3,884 total, 104 in this make and model, 3,686 as pilot in command, 75 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: LWA ## 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 20060715021889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060715021889A), Jul 15, 2006: Armpri BREEZY, South Haven, MI, Destroyed, 1 fatal. (-23) The aircraft departed rwy 22. A witness stated he saw an object fall from the aircraft when the aircraft was approximately 500 feet AGL. According to the… 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.