# NTSB CHI99LA255: Buss Avid Flyer Mark IV, N392SB, New London, WI, July 10, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 10, 1999, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: New London, WI - Coordinates: 44.389209, -88.729446 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3892&lon=-88.7294&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46898 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI99LA255 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46898/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI99LA255 ## Probable cause the inadequate preflight planning/preparation by the pilot. Factors to the accident were the powerplant seizing and the misjudged flare by the pilot. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - powerplant - seized (contributing factor) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Hard landing, emergency landing - flare - misjudged, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Analysis During the initial climb, at an altitude of approximately 100 feet above ground level (agl), the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot stated that he lowered the nose and made a turn of approximately 45-degrees to the east. The pilot reported that he made a '...hard landing off the runway on [the] airport property that was a level field.' During an examination of the wreckage, no anomalies were found with the airframe or the control systems. The engine started-up and ran without any anomalous behavior. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) maintenance inspector's statement, the engine had experienced a cold seizure due to the engine not being properly warmed-up prior to the takeoff run. According to the pilot's written statement, he also attributed the loss of engine power to a cold seizure of the engine. ## Factual narrative On July 10, 1999, at 1800 central daylight time, a Buss Avid Flyer Mark IV, N392SB, piloted by a recreational pilot, received substantial damage during a hard landing following a loss of engine power during initial climb from runway 02 (2,270 feet by 165 feet, dry/turf) at the Northport Airport, Royalton, Wisconsin. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The single passenger reported minor injuries. The flight was departing Northport Airport at the time of the accident and had the intended destination of a private airstrip near Eland, Wisconsin. According to the pilot's written statement, during the initial climb, at an altitude of approximately 100 feet above ground level (agl), the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot stated that he lowered the nose and made a turn of approximately 45-degrees to the east. The pilot reported that he made a "...hard landing off the runway on [the] airport property that was a level field." Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors represented the National Transportation Safety Board for the on-site portion of the investigation. During the FAA inspection of the wreckage, no anomalies were found with the airframe and it control systems. A FAA maintenance inspector started-up and ran the accident engine and noticed no anomalous behavior. According to the FAA maintenance inspector's statement, the engine had experienced a cold seizure due to the engine not being properly warmed-up prior to the takeoff run. According to the pilot's written statement, he also attributed the loss of engine power to a cold seizure of the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N392SB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N392SB), registered now, S/N 1141D, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Buss AVID FLYER MARK IV (AVID FLYER) - Registry model: [Buss Paul B AVID FLYER MARK IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/buss-paul-b-avid-flyer-mark-iv) (registry code 05626QN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul) (registry code 55592, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1141D - Airframe hours: 237 - Engines: Rotax 618 UL-DCDI 75 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Paul Bernard Buss - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 12, 1999, 11 hours before - Departed: 38WI - Destination: PVT, ELAND, WI - Airport: 38WI, Northport Airport, runway 2, 2,270 × 165 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 187 total, 153 in this make and model, 144 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: OSH, 27 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 19990710027799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990710027799A), Jul 10, 1999: Amtr AVIDFLYER, Royalton, WI, Substantial damage. (.19) On July 10, 1999, at 1800 central daylight time, a buss avid flyer mark iv, N392SB, piloted by a recreational pilot, received substantial damage during 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.