# NTSB DEN87LA122: Beausoleil Acro Sport, N1717, Englewood, CO, May 9, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 8, 1987, 18:30 local (May 9, 1987, 00:30 UTC)
- Place: Englewood, CO
- Location: 39.5701° N, 104.8493° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at CENTENNIAL (APA), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.5701&lon=-104.8493&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 31, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17222
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87LA122
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17222/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87LA122

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll
  - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor)
  - proper alignment - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing - roll

## Analysis

THE COMMERCIAL PLT WAS FLYING HIS EXPERIMENTAL ACRO SPORT 1 IN THE LOCAL AREA. AFTER ABOUT AN HOUR OF ACROBATIC PRACTICE, HE RETURNED FOR LANDING TO HIS HOME ARPT. THE PLT ACCEPTED RWY 28 DUE TO HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE WINDS WERE REPORTED AS 050 DEGREES AT 8 KNOTS, A QUARTERING TAILWIND. UPON TOUCHDOWN, THE ACFT TURNED LEFT AND THE PLT CORRECTED ALIGNMENT. DIRECTIONAL CONTROL WAS LOST AND THE ACFT DEPARTED THE RWY TO THE LEFT, INTO SOFT GROUND, AND NOSED OVER, COMING TO REST INVERTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1717](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1717), registered now, S/N 5431521, built 1981 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BEAUSOLEIL ACRO SPORT
- Registry model: [Beausoleil Barry R ACRO SPORT-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/beausoleil-barry-r-acro-sport-1) (registry code 0564697) (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: 5431521
- Airframe hours: 174
- Engines: LYCOMING O-320-E2D 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Tighe, Earl E.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 27, 1986, 21 hours before
- Airport: APA, Centennial, runway 28, 4,900 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 3,504 total, 6 in this make and model, 1,631 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: APA

## 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 19870509016689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870509016689A), May 9, 1987: Amtrea ACROSPORT, Denver, CO, Substantial damage. Lost directional control on landing. Departed runway into soft ground. Nosed over. Came to rest inverted.

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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