# NTSB ERA09LA511: Air Creation 582SL, N699AC, Strafford, NH, September 5, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 5, 2009, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Strafford, NH - Coordinates: 43.316665, -71.133331 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3167&lon=-71.1333&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74695 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA511 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74695/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74695 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA511 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he had recently purchased the weight-shift-control aircraft and was flying it to his home. About an hour into the flight the non-certified engine quit. The pilot recalled that just prior to the loss of engine power he encountered turbulence, which could have disrupted fuel flow to the engine. ## Factual narrative On September 5, 2009, at 1600 eastern daylight time, an experimental, float-equipped Air Creation Buggy 582SL, N699AC, was substantially damaged when it impacted trees during a forced landing in Strafford, New Hampshire. The certificated private pilot sustained serious injuries. 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 originated from Lake Attitash, Amesbury, Massachusetts, at 1500, and was destined for Lake Winnipesaukee, Alton, New Hampshire. The pilot stated that he had recently purchased the weight-shift-control aircraft and was flying it to his home. About an hour into the flight, the engine quit. The pilot executed a forced landing into the top of a tree, substantially damaging the right wing. The pilot climbed down from the tree and was later picked up by a friend. He later recalled that just prior to the loss of engine power, he encountered turbulence, which he believed disrupted fuel flow to the engine. The aircraft was powered by a 65-hosepower Rotax 582 engine, with about 140 hours of operation since new. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) ## Aircraft - Registration: N699AC (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: AIR CREATION 582SL - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: 699 - Airframe hours: 140 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Richard Pierce - Registered owner: Richard Pierce - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: None, Amesbury, MA - Destination: None, Alton, NH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: serious; private, sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; seat: front; flight hours: 990 total, 740 in this make and model, 990 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 8 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: DAW, 11 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 20090905049439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090905049439A), Sep 5, 2009: Air Creatio BUGGY 582 S, Strafford, NH, Substantial damage. In cruise at 2000 feet engine lost power. The wooded terrain dictated that he land the aircraft in the tree tops. Aircraft remained in the tree tops and was… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 23, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74695. 3.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 423 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329301&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA digital photo, cockpit (item 2, .PDF, 481 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329303&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20digital%20photo,%20cockpit-Master.PDF - FAA Digital Photo, Float damage (item 3, .PDF, 688 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329304&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Digital%20Photo,%20Float%20damage-Master.PDF - FAA Digital Photo, Registration Number (item 4, .PDF, 458 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329306&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Digital%20Photo,%20Registration%20Number-Master.PDF - Faa digital photo, View looking forward (item 5, .PDF, 601 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329307&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Faa%20digital%20photo,%20View%20looking%20forward-Master.PDF - Faa Digital Photo, Wing Damage (item 6, .PDF, 573 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329308&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Faa%20Digital%20Photo,%20Wing%20Damage-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.