- Date
- July 29, 2009, 08:30 local (12:30 UTC)
- Place
- Geneva, FL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N781PJQuicksilver Sport 2S
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 29, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- Case key
- 74676
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
Oil starvation due to air in the engine oil supply line, which resulted in engine seizure during initial climb.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot stated he performed a routine pre-flight inspection and engine start, followed by a normal pre-takeoff checklist, including a magneto check. The takeoff and initial climb were uneventful; however, approximately 250 feet above ground level, the “engine quit abruptly; there was no sputtering.” The pilot maintained control and the airplane subsequently landed in high grass, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. He reported about 165 hours of total flight experience, which included about 93 hours in make and model. Postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector and a mechanic revealed an air bubble in the oil line and a scored piston, indicating that a lack of lubricating oil caused the piston to seize during operation. Prior to the accident flight, the pilot reported that he removed the oil filter, inspected it for contaminants, and reinstalled the same filter. According to the pilot, the engine was new in 2004 and had approximately 299 hours time in service.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated he performed a routine pre-flight inspection and after engine start, followed a normal pre takeoff checklist including a magneto check. The takeoff and initial climb were uneventful; however, at approximately 250 feet above ground level, the “engine quit abruptly; there was no sputtering.” The pilot maintained control and the airplane subsequently landed in high grass, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. He reported about 165 hours of total flight experience, which included about 93 hours in make and model. Post accident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector and a mechanic revealed an air bubble in the oil line and a scored piston, indicating that a lack of lubricating oil caused the piston to seize during operation. Prior to the accident flight, the pilot reported that he removed the oil filter, inspected it for contaminants, and reinstalled the same filter. According to the pilot, the engine was new in 2004 and had approximately 299 hours time in service.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N781PJ
- Reported as
- Quicksilver Sport 2S
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 0087
- Airframe hours
- 299
- Engine
- Rotax 582 ULDCDI, 64 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Petrus C. Leenen
- Registered owner
- Petrus C. Leenen
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · May 8, 2009 · 4 hours before
- Departed
- FD92 · Geneva, FL
- Destination
- FD92 · Geneva, FL
- Airport
- FD92 · Southerland Strip Airport
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 51
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 2, 2008
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 165 total · 93 in this make and model · 107 as pilot in command · 5 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 81 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.92 inHg
- Observed at
- SFB, 9 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 22, 2009, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.2 MB in all.