# NTSB ERA10LA166: Belcher William B II Firestar, N43341, Wetumpka, AL, March 6, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 6, 2010, 16:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Wetumpka, AL - Coordinates: 32.691944, -86.258888 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.6919&lon=-86.2589&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 12, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75455 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10LA166 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75455/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75455 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA166 ## Probable cause The student pilot’s in-flight loss of control as a result of previous damage to the airplane from an undetermined event. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Belcher William B II FIRESTAR, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05904QU), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Empennage structure: rudder/tab attach fitting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035554): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Belcher William B II FIRESTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035554/cases.md?model=05904QU), [All aircraft, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035554/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 control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Belcher William B II FIRESTAR, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05904QU), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Belcher William B II FIRESTAR, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05904QU), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot stated that he was performing a series of local flights in an experimental amateur-built airplane. During his second takeoff and climb, he attempted to maneuver the airplane in a level attitude. The airplane pitched downward further than expected and he was able to maintain a shallow descent by commanding full up elevator. The student pilot applied power and the airplane rolled 90 degrees left while diving straight down. The airplane leveled out just prior to the wings impacting trees. After exiting the airplane, the student pilot observed that the left horizontal stabilizer was loose and the tail stinger tube was broken. He had performed a preflight inspection and did not notice anything abnormal prior to the flight. On-scene examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the tailwheel stinger tube and lower rudder hinge were fractured and that the damage was consistent with damage caused prior to the flight. ## Factual narrative On March 6, 2010, at about 1645 central standard time, an experimental amateur-built Kolb Firestar, N43341, was substantially damaged during impact with trees after a loss of control while departing a private airfield near Wetumpka, Alabama. The student pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The student pilot stated that he was performing a series of local flights. His first flight lasted approximately 10 minutes, and after landing he immediately departed on his second flight. He climbed through about 800 feet, attempted to level off, and the airplane pitched down further than expected. He was able to maintain a shallow descent by commanding full up elevator. He added power in an attempt to climb and the airplane rolled 90 degrees to the left and dove straight down. The student pilot commanded full right aileron and rudder, and the airplane "flattened out" just prior to the wings impacting trees. After exiting the airplane, he noticed the tailwheel canted against one side of the vertical stabilizer, along with the lower half of the rudder. He also observed the left horizontal stabilizer to be loose, and the tail stinger to be broken. The student pilot had performed a preflight inspection before the flight, and did not notice anything abnormal. Earlier in the day, another pilot had performed a preflight inspection and flown the airplane, and also did not notice anything abnormal. On March 7, 2010, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector traveled to the accident site to examine the airplane. The airplane was located approximately 500 feet east of the airstrip. Both wings suffered substantial crush damage on the leading edge. No damage was observed to the engine or propeller. The tailwheel stinger tube and the lower rudder hinge were fractured. The damage to the tailwheel stringer tube and rudder hinge was consistent with damage caused prior to the flight. According to the student pilot and FAA records, the student pilot was issued his third-class medical certificate on November 4, 2008, which also served as his student pilot certificate. According to written documentation from the student pilot, he had accumulated approximately 130 total hours of flight experience, of which 100 hours were in the accident airplane make and model. Review of the student pilot’s logbook and certificate by the FAA inspector revealed that his 90-day solo endorsement was issued on October 22, 2009. According to FAA records, the airplane was built in 1999 and was issued a special airworthiness certificate on October 13, 2009. It was equipped with a Rotax 503DCDI engine and a three-bladed IVO propeller. At the time of the accident the airplane had accrued approximately 500 total hours time in service. According to the FAA inspector that responded to the accident, the privateairstrip was between 500 and 800 feet in length, oriented northeast and southwest, was located between two adjacent hills, and had been "rough graded." The 1653 recorded weather at Montgomery Regional Airport, Dannelly Field (MGM), Montgomery, Alabama, located 21 miles to the southwest of the accident location, included wind from 360 degrees at 7 knots, visibility 10 miles, few clouds at 500 feet above ground level, temperature 16 degrees C, dew point minus 9 degrees C, altimeter setting 30.23 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N43341](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43341-2018-01-19), registration cancelled 2018-01-19, S/N FS 692 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BELCHER WILLIAM B II FIRESTAR - Registry model: [Belcher William B II FIRESTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/belcher-william-b-ii-firestar) (registry code 05904QU) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503 DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-dcdi) (registry code 55566, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: FS 692 - Airframe hours: 500 - Engines: Rotax 503DCDI reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: NONE, Wetumpka, AL - Destination: NONE, Wetumpka, AL - Airport: NONE, Private ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 51; injuries: minor; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 130 total, 100 in this make and model, 110 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: MGM, 21 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 20100306028609A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100306028609A), Mar 6, 2010: Belcher Wil FIRESTAR, West Blocton, AL, Substantial damage. After take-off from Cunningham field (private) pilot experenced loss of directional control caused by a broken tail wheel stinger tube and lower rudder hinge,… ## Other investigations on N43341 (1) 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. - [NTSB ERA11LA135](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA135), Feb 6, 2011: Belcher William B II Firestar (N43341), West Blocton, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 17, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75455. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329816&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 2, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329632&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 8 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40329795&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-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.