- Date
- April 3, 2008, 16:40 local (20:40 UTC)
- Place
- Geneva, OH
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N614TBKoleno Titan T-51
- Defining event
- Approach: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Cleveland, Ohio
- FAA report
- 20080403846299A
- Case key
- 68024
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 failure of the propeller pitch control mechanism during approach. Contributing to the accident were the inability of the pilot to maintain airspeed and altitude, and the unsuitable terrain.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The amateur-built airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing during landing approach. The pilot reported that as he circled the airport, the engine speed went to 6,000 RPM. He stated that he pulled the power back, lowered the landing gear and increased the propeller pitch. He said that the airplane began to stall and he could not maintain altitude. He executed a forced landing to a wetland. The right wing struck the water and broke off spinning the airplane around. Subsequent examination of the controllable pitch propeller revealed that a jack screw pin had sheared allowing the prop to go to a fine pitch setting. One of the blade pitch stops also broke resulting in the blade moving into a reverse pitch position.
Factual narrative
The amateur-built airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing during landing approach. The pilot reported that as he circled the airport, the engine speed went to 6,000 RPM. He stated that he pulled the power back, lowered the landing gear and increased the propeller pitch. He said that the airplane began to stall and he could not maintain altitude. He executed a forced landing to a wetland. The right wing struck the water and broke off spinning the airplane around. Subsequent examination of the controllable pitch propeller revealed that a jack screw pin had sheared allowing the prop to go to a fine pitch setting. One of the blade pitch stops also broke resulting in the blade moving into a reverse pitch position.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N614TB
- Reported as
- Koleno Titan T-51
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- M05XXXSOHK0087
- Airframe hours
- 25
- Engine
- Suzuki H27A, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- HZY · Ashtabula, OH
- Destination
- 7D9 · Gevena, OH
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
- 35
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- November 1, 2007
- Flight hours
- 1,626 total · 350 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.