# NTSB CHI86FEX05: Christen Industries Eagle II, N39RH, Aurora, IN, March 26, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Final report
- Date: March 26, 1986, 13:24 local (18:24 UTC)
- Place: Aurora, IN
- Coordinates: 39.060859, -84.899147 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0609&lon=-84.8991&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13347
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI86FEX05
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13347/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI86FEX05

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - aircraft performance - exceeded (cause)
  - altitude - misjudged, pilot in command (cause)
  - aerobatics - intentional, pilot in command (cause)
  - overconfidence in aircraft's ability, pilot in command (contributing factor)

## Analysis

THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND WHEN AN UNSUCCESSFUL AEROBATIC LOOP MANEUVER WAS ATTEMPTED ON TAKEOFF. THE PILOT OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS ISSUED A STATEMENT OF ACROBATIC COMPENTENCY WHICH ALLOWED ALL MANEUVERS WITHIN THE LIMITATIONS OF THE AIRCRAFT AND WITH A MINIMUM ALTITUDE LIMITATION OF 500 FEET. THE PILOT HAD APPROXIMATELY 500 HOURS FLIGHT TIME WITH 460 HOURS AS PIC IN THIS TYPE AIRCRAFT. ACCORDING TO THE DESIGNER OF THIS AIRCRAFT IT IS NOT NORMALLY CAPABLE OF SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETING A LOOP ON TAKEOFF.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N39RH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39RH-1997-04-09), registration cancelled 1997-04-09, S/N HENDERSON0001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Christen Industries EAGLE II
- Registry model: [Henderson Robert N CHRISTEN EAGLE II](https://openairdocs.org/model/henderson-robert-n-christen-eagle-ii) (registry code 05658HD) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 0001
- Airframe hours: 311
- Engines: LYCOMING AEIO-360-A1D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Robert N. Henderson
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 1986, 19 hours before
- Destination: 22G, LORAIN, OH
- Airport: I60, Aurora, runway 16, 2,400 × 50 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; toxicology performed; flight hours: 500 total, 500 in this make and model, 460 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 20 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: CVG, 13 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 19860326010939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860326010939A), Mar 26, 1986: Amtr CHRISEAGLE2, Aurora, IN, Destroyed. Pilot attempted a loop maneuver after takeoff. Aircraft impacted ground during pullout.

## Other investigations on N39RH (1)

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.

- [NTSB BFO94LA161](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO94LA161), Sep 30, 1994: Henderson Christen Eagle II (N39RH), Painesville, OH, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while conducting aerobatic maneuvers. The pilot's overconfidence in his ability was a factor.

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.

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