# NTSB ERA09LA498: Hahn R-W22 Tiger Moth Rep, N318JT, Symrna, TN, September 1, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 1, 2009, 13:14 local (18:14 UTC) - Place: Symrna, TN - Coordinates: 35.747451, -86.692306 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.7475&lon=-86.6923&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74645 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA498 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74645/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74645 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA498 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Hahn T/Hahn J R-W22 TIGERMOTHREPLI, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=056234J), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/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 (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Hahn T/Hahn J R-W22 TIGERMOTHREPLI, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=056234J), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hahn T/Hahn J R-W22 TIGERMOTHREPLI, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056234J), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The accident flight was the airplane’s first flight with a newly installed engine. The pilot executed a normal takeoff and, during initial climbout, the engine began to overheat. Subsequently, engine power diminished and the pilot made a forced landing into the trees at the end of the runway. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. Due to the extensive fire damage of the automobile engine, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On September 1, 2009, about 1314 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Hahn R-W22 Tiger Moth Replica, N318JT, lost engine power and collided with trees at Smyrna Airport (MQY), Smyrna, Tennessee. The airline transport-rated pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged by impact forces, and post crash fire. The flight was operated as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that this was the airplane’s first flight with a newly installed engine. The owner of the airplane informed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that the engine was purchased from a local salvage yard, and that it was taken from a 1997 Geo Metro. The pilot stated that he taxied to the end of runway 32, which is 8037 feet long. He said that during the initial climbout, he was conducting engine and instruments checks when he noticed that the engine began to overheat. Subsequently the engine power diminished, and the airplane only climbed to approximately 200-300 feet agl. The pilot said that at that time he was unable to maintain altitude and therefore he made a forced landing in the trees at the end of the runway. A post crash fire ensued and the airplane was totally consumed by the fire. The pilot did not report any flight control malfunctions prior to the accident. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the airplane collided with trees at the end of the runway. The airframe and flight control system components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunction. Due to the extensive fire damage of the automobile engine, the reason for loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N318JT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N318JT-2017-06-19), registration cancelled 2017-06-19, S/N 001, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hahn R-W22 Tiger Moth Rep - Registry model: [Hahn T/Hahn J R-W22 TIGERMOTHREPLI](https://openairdocs.org/model/hahn-t-hahn-j-r-w22-tigermothrepli) (registry code 056234J) (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: 001 - Airframe hours: 0 - Engines: reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Tracy L. Hahn - Registered owner: Tracy L. Hahn - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 25, 2009, 0 hours before - Departed: MQY, Symrna, TN - Destination: MQY, Symrna, TN - Airport: MQY, Symrna Airport, runway 32, 8,037 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; seat: single; flight hours: 12,000 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: MQY, 1 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 20090901017389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090901017389A), Sep 1, 2009: Hahnth RW22TIGERMOT, Smyrna, TN, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot departed runway 32 at Smyrna Airport (mqy) Smyrna TN. This was the first flight for the homebuilt R-W22 tiger moth replica. N318JT. The aircraft… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 29, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74645. 120 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 10 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318971&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-FAA statement (item 2, .PDF, 13 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318972&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-FAA%20statement-Master.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-Record of Conversation pilot (item 3, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318973&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-Record%20of%20Conversation%20pilot-Master.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports-FAA Inspector Statement 2 (item 4, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40318974&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports-FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%202-Master.PDF 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.