# NTSB ERA09LA222: Rogers Kenneth J Flaglor Scooter, N3248Q, Griffin, GA, March 30, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 30, 2009, 13:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Griffin, GA - Coordinates: 33.325, -84.298332 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3250&lon=-84.2983&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 28, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73577 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA222 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73577/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA222 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to the failure of the engine-driven fuel pump. Contributing to the accident was unsuitable terrain for a forced landing and the pilot’s preexisting medical condition. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel pumps](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022822): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Rogers Kenneth J FLAGLOR SCOOTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022822/cases.md?model=05658HL), [All aircraft, 71 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022822/cases.md) - [Health/Fitness: predisposing condition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013035): Personnel issues › Physical · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Rogers Kenneth J FLAGLOR SCOOTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013035/cases.md?model=05658HL), [All aircraft, 56 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02013035/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Rogers Kenneth J FLAGLOR SCOOTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=05658HL), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Rogers Kenneth J FLAGLOR SCOOTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05658HL), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Rogers Kenneth J FLAGLOR SCOOTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05658HL), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Rogers Kenneth J FLAGLOR SCOOTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05658HL), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was test flying the airplane following adjustment of the horizontal stabilizer and installation of an in-line fuel primer pump. Shortly after takeoff, the engine began to lose power. The pilot turned to the right to avoid obstacles and lowered the nose to maintain gliding speed. During the forced landing, the airplane collided with terrain, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. Examination of the engine revealed the automotive-type engine-driven fuel pump failed. The pump actuator spring was broken and fell out when the pump was removed. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that the pilot had been informed prior to the accident that he was not medically fit to fly because of the loss of part of his left arm. The pilot did not possess a current FAA medical certificate. ## Factual narrative On March 30, 2009, about 1300 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built, Rogers Flaglor Scooter, N3248Q, was substantially damaged following an engine power loss after takeoff from Beaverbrook Aerodrome (10GA), Griffin, Georgia. The airplane was registered to and operated by the certificated private pilot. The pilot sustained serious injuries. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. He reported that the fuel tank was found 20 feet from the main wreckage and was approximately one-fourth to one-half full of fuel. An in-line bulb-type primer pump was installed and required three full squeezes to produce fuel flow. The engine was intact. There was a small amount of fuel in the clear plastic supply line from the engine-driven fuel pump to the carburetor. One of the propeller blades was warped aft approximately 20 degrees and the hub was splintered. The pilot, who was also a certificated mechanic, reported that he had flown the airplane earlier in the day and determined that the horizontal stabilizer needed adjustment. He also installed the fuel primer pump. After the maintenance work was completed, he took off on runway 33. At approximately 150 feet above ground level (agl) after takeoff, the engine began to sputter and miss. He turned the airplane approximately 60 degrees to the right to avoid obstacles and to find an open area to land the airplane. He pushed the nose over to maintain gliding speed and the airplane collided with the ground. The pilot’s injuries included a broken leg. He was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident; he believes this may have prevented head injury. He reported that the engine-driven fuel pump failed; due to time constraints he did not activate the fuel primer pump to restore fuel flow. On May 6, 2009, a follow-up inspection of the wreckage was performed at the pilot’s residence by NTSB and FAA personnel with the pilot in attendance. The engine-driven fuel pump had been removed by the pilot. The automotive-style pump, manufactured by Volkswagen in Brazil, was a sealed unit and was not disassembled. The examination revealed the pump actuator spring was broken; the owner stated that the spring fell out when the pump was removed. The pilot provided a video recording of the accident sequence, taken by a friend. A review of the recording confirmed the account of the pilot. The pilot did not possess a current FAA medical certificate and his last valid medical certificate was issued in 1998. The FAA inspector reported that the pilot was verbally notified prior the accident that he was not medically fit to fly due to the loss of part of his left arm. The pilot voluntarily surrendered his pilot certificate to the FAA inspector onMay 5, 2009. The 1252 weather observation for the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Atlanta, Georgia, located 20 miles north of the accident site, included the following: surface winds from 290 degrees at 5 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, few clouds at 15,000 feet and a broken ceiling at 25,000 feet, temperature 14 degrees Celsius (C), dew point 1 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 30.05 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3248Q](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3248Q), registered now, S/N 347 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROGERS KENNETH J Flaglor Scooter - Registry model: [Rogers Kenneth J FLAGLOR SCOOTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/rogers-kenneth-j-flaglor-scooter) (registry code 05658HL) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Volkswagen CONVERSION](https://openairdocs.org/engine/volkswagen-conversion) (registry code 63501, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 347 - Airframe hours: 308 - Engines: Volkswagen 1600 Conv. 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Rogers Kenneth J - Registered owner: Rogers Kenneth J - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 2, 2009 - Departed: 10GA, Griffin, GA - Destination: 10GA, Griffin, GA - Airport: 10GA, Beaverbrook Aerodrome, runway 33, 2,100 × 150 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: serious; private, sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review November 2, 2007; seat: single; flight hours: 2,250 total, 289 in this make and model, 2,250 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: ATL, 20 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 20090330004029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090330004029A), Mar 30, 2009: Rogers FLAGLORSCOOT, Griffin, GA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot departed runway 33 at Beaverbrook Aerodrome(10GA) and at approximately 150 foot above ground level the engine began to sputter and miss.… 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.