# NTSB DFW07LA105: Aviat A-1A, N16HY, Farmingdale, NY, May 5, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 5, 2007, 08:50 local (12:50 UTC) - Place: Farmingdale, NY - Coordinates: 40.723888, -73.408058 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7239&lon=-73.4081&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 25, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDo - NTSB case key (mKey): 65751 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW07LA105 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65751/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07LA105 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during a short-field takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent stall. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The airplane stalled during initial takeoff climb as the pilot was performing a simulated short field takeoff. The pilot/owner boarded his passenger, started the airplane, and taxied to a 5,516-foot-long by 150-foot-wide asphalt runway. The pilot elected to perform a short-field takeoff. Once the airplane became airborne, the pilot established a pronounced nose-high attitude as he attempted to establish a climb airspeed of 55 knots. The pilot was under the impression that the stall speed of the airplane was between 47 and 51 knots and the best angle of climb speed (Vx) was between 55 and 60 knots. The pilot added that when the airplane reached an altitude of 100 to 200 feet above the runway, the engine RPM dropped and the airspeed decreased. The airplane stalled and the nose of the airplane dropped toward the ground, impacting the runway. A witness, who was a flight instructor, was standing on the airport ramp near the main terminal building when he saw the airplane takeoff. He said the airplane was in an "extreme nose high attitude" and he never saw the pilot make an attempt to lower the nose. Examination of the airplane revealed that the airplane came to rest upright on the west side of the runway near the 1,020-foot fixed-distance marks on the runway. The initial impact point was a series of four slash marks on the runway surface just prior to where the airplane came to rest. The flaps were found in the zero-degree (fully retracted) position and the elevator trim tab was positioned one-quarter of a turn from neutral towards the nose down position. According to the airplane's Flight Manual, the tab should be set halfway between neutral and full nose-up for a high performance takeoff. In addition, the published stall speed for the airplane with flaps (power on) was 33 miles per hour (mph) (29 knots). ## Factual narrative On May 5, 2007, at 0850 eastern daylight time, a single-engine Aviat A-1A airplane, N16HY, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain shortly after takeoff from Runway 01 at the Republic Airport (KFRG), near Farmingdale, New York. The commercial pilot was seriously injured and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to Air Transport Service, LLC, of Wilmington, Delaware, and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. In a written statement, the pilot stated that he requested a short field, "immediate left downwind departure" from air traffic control. While climbing, the engine's manifold pressure and RPM dropped without warning. The engine lost "significant" power, the "nose went down", and he attempted to land on the runway. In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that prior to the flight he calculated the airplane's weight and balance to be 15 to 20 pounds under gross weight and performed a pre-flight inspection of the airplane. He then boarded his passenger, started the engine and taxied the airplane to Runway 01(a 5,516-foot-long and 150-foot-wide asphalt runway). The pilot reported that everything was operating normally, and he elected to execute a short-field takeoff. Once the airplane became airborne, he pitched the nose-up to establish a climb airspeed of 55 knots. When asked what the stall speed of the airplane was, the pilot replied that it was between 47 and 51 knots and the best angle of climb speed (Vx) was between 55 and 60 knots. He added that when the airplane reached an altitude of about 100 to 200 feet above the runway, the engine RPM dropped and "things happened fast" as the airspeed decreased. The pilot further stated that he got concerned that the airplane would "slide back on its tail since he was out of the performance parameters of the aircraft." Subsequently, the nose of the airplane dropped toward the ground and the airplane impacted the runway. The pilot declared that he made every effort to recover the airplane; however, he did not have enough altitude to fully recover. In addition, he said that there was an initial drop in engine power (he thought maybe due to a magneto dropping off line), but it came back and the engine was operating at the time of impact. He also could not recall if he had retracted the flaps; however, he did say that if he had retracted the flaps it would have "exacerbated" the "situation." A witness, who was a flight instructor, was standing on the airport ramp near the main terminal building when he saw the airplane takeoff. He reported that the airplane was in an "extreme nose high attitude" and he never saw the pilot make an attempt to lower the nose. When the airplane reached an altitude of 50-75 feet above the runway, the left wing dropped followed by the nose of the airplane and it impacted the ground. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety inspector performed an on-scene examination of the airplane. According to the inspector, the airplane came to rest in the upright position on the west side of the runway near the 1,020-foot fixed-distance marks. The initial impact point was a series of four slash marks on the runway surface just prior to where the airplane came to rest. Examination of the airplane revealed that the elevator trim tab was positioned one-quarter of a turn from neutral towards the nose down position. According to the airplane's Flight Manual, the tab should be set halfway between neutral and full nose-up for a high performance takeoff. The flaps were found in the zero-degree (fully retracted) position. In addition, the published stall speed for the airplane with flaps (power on) was 33 miles per hour (mph) (29 knots). A review of the aircraft logbooks revealed the last annual inspection was completed on April 1, 2006. As per Federal Regulations, the airplane was required to have an annual inspection to be considered airworthy. The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate for airplane single-engine and multi-engine land, and instrument airplane. He reported having accumulated a total of 1,846 hours, of which, 42 hours were in the same make and model aircraft. His last second class FAA medical was issued on December 1, 2006. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N16HY](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16HY-2010-04-19), registration cancelled 2010-04-19, S/N 1455, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aviat A-1A - Registry model: [Aviat A-1A](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1a) (registry code 2210405) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-C1F](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-c1f) (registry code 41573, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1455 - Airframe hours: 481.1 - Engines: Lycoming 0-360 180 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Vincent Pacifico - Registered owner: Air Transport Service, LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2006 - Departed: FRG, Farmingdale, NY - Airport: KFRG, Republic Aiport, runway 01, 5,516 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: serious; private, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2005; seat: front; flight hours: 2 total, 42 in this make and model, 1,796 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 9° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: FRG ## 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 20070505019459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070505019459A), May 5, 2007: Aviat A1A, Farmingdale, NY, Substantial damage. (-23) May 5, 2007 Republic Airport, Farmingdale, NY (frg). At approximately 0850 local time, Aviat-A-1A, N16HY, s/n 1455 departed runway 1. The aircraft was… 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.