# NTSB ERA09CA046: Hilderson Oswald Aventura HP, N1932H, Weirwood, VA, October 31, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 31, 2008, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Weirwood, VA - Coordinates: 37.466388, -75.856941 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4664&lon=-75.8569&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 24, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 69422 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA046 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69422/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA046 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane following an in-flight encounter with turbulence during approach, which led to a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, and subsequent forced landing into trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Turbulence: clear air turbulence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Ability to respond/compensate (probable cause); cases with it: [Hilderson Oswald AV HP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md?model=05614SZ), [All aircraft, 78 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03032015/cases.md) - [Engine fuel and control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057300): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Hilderson Oswald AV HP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057300/cases.md?model=05614SZ), [All aircraft, 49 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057300/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hilderson Oswald AV HP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05614SZ), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Turbulence encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360); cases with it: [Hilderson Oswald AV HP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md?model=05614SZ), [All aircraft, 423 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/360/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Inflight upset](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/271); cases with it: [Hilderson Oswald AV HP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/271/sequence.md?model=05614SZ), [All aircraft, 74 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/271/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Hilderson Oswald AV HP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05614SZ), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hilderson Oswald AV HP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05614SZ), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot the weather was clear with winds from the southwest at 5 to 10 knots. He stated that after refueling, he departed for a second flight and after 20 minutes, he prepared to land. On an extended downwind leg, at 1,100 feet above ground level (AGL) and about to turn base leg, he encountered some turbulence. He increased power and got out of it, only to enter turbulence again. The airplane went into a dive and went inverted, cutting the fuel flow off to the engine. He was able to regain control and fly the airplane. However, without engine power he was gliding toward the woods. The airplane was too close to the trees, and the pilot's only option was to reduce airspeed to near stalling and mush down on the treetops. The airplane descendedinto the trees with the left wingtip on the ground and the nose 6 feet off the ground. The reported wind, at an airport about 12 miles northwest of the accident site, about the time of the accident, was from 250 degrees at 9 knots. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot of the Aventura HP experimental light sport aircraft (E-LSA) amphibian airplane, the weather was clear with winds from the southwest at 5 to 10 knots. He stated that after refueling, he departed for a second flight and after 20 minutes, he prepared to land. On an extended downwind leg, at 1,100 feet above ground level (AGL) and about to turn base leg, he encountered some turbulence. He increased power and got out of it, only to enter turbulence again. The airplane went into a dive and at one time he only saw the sky, meaning the airplane was inverted and cutting the fuel flow off to the engine. He was able to regain control and fly the airplane. However, without engine power he was gliding for the woods. The airplane was too close to the trees, and his only option was to reduce airspeed to near stalling and mush down on the treetops. The airplane then started to fall down about 30 feet and stopped with the left wingtip on the ground and the nose 6 feet off the ground. The reported wind, at an airport about 12 miles northwest of the accident site, about the time of the accident, was from 250 degrees at 9 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1932H](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1932H-2008-12-04), registration cancelled 2008-12-04, S/N 0018, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hilderson Oswald Aventura HP - Registry model: [Hilderson Oswald AV HP](https://openairdocs.org/model/hilderson-oswald-av-hp) (registry code 05614SZ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0018 - Airframe hours: 347.2 - Engines: Rotax 503 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Hilderson Oswald - Registered owner: Hilderson Oswald - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, September 22, 2008, 24.9 hours before - Departed: 9VG, Weirwood, VA - Destination: 9VG, Weirwood, VA - Airport: 9VG, Campbell Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: none; sport pilot, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 11, 2008; seat: single; flight hours: 377 total, 315 in this make and model, 325 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.47 inHg - Observed at: MFV, 12 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 20081031853119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081031853119A), Oct 31, 2008: Amtr AVHP, Weirwood, VA, Destroyed. Upon entering the traffic patter at 1100 feet MSL the pilot stated he encountered a downdraft, lost control of the aircraft and became inverted. The engine… 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.