# NTSB ERA12LA230: Sadler Terry A Merlin, N6113Y, Otisfield, ME, March 17, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 17, 2012, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Otisfield, ME - Coordinates: 44.049446, -70.524719 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0494&lon=-70.5247&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83156 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12LA230 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83156/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83156 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12LA230 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was his lack of experience in the airplane make and model. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Sadler Terry A MERLIN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=05610OS), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Sadler Terry A MERLIN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=05610OS), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Sadler Terry A MERLIN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05610OS), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Sadler Terry A MERLIN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05610OS), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Sadler Terry A MERLIN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05610OS), [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: [Sadler Terry A MERLIN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05610OS), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot purchased the airplane 7 years before the accident but had only accumulated 1 hour of flight time in it. Prior to the accident, the pilot and a friend performed adjustments to the airplane's floats. The pilot then taxied on the lake and departed for a local flight. A witness stated that as the airplane reached an altitude of 100 feet, it banked to the right slightly and then banked hard to the left and pitched down. The airplane impacted the frozen lake in a nose-down attitude, bounced, and came to rest, breaking the ice. Postaccident examination of the airplane found no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On March 17, 2012, at 1230 eastern daylight time, N6113Y, an experimental, amateur built Merlin airplane, was substantially damaged during takeoff from Pleasant Lake, Maine. The certificated private pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. According to a witness, he and the pilot made adjustments to the aircraft floats prior to the pilot's departure from the frozen lake. The witness reported that the pilot taxied on the ice, and then departed to the north. As the airplane reached an altitude of approximately 100 feet, the right wing "dipped a little" and the airplane banked "hard left and went down." The airplane impacted the frozen lake nose first and bounced, before impacting again and breaking the ice. In a telephone interview with the pilot, he reported that he purchased the airplane in 2005 and has flown about 1 hour in the airplane since then. The most recent flight he conducted took place a few weeks prior to the accident. During that flight, the airplane "pulled to the right." As a result, the pilot made adjustments to the floats to assure they were aligned properly. The pilot reported that on the day of the accident he taxied around the lake for a while, and then departed. As the airplane reached an altitude of about 100 feet, it "felt funny and nosed down." He attempted to set the airplane back down on the lake; however, the nose of the airplane impacted the lake and the airplane bounced. The pilot reported that he did not experience a loss of engine power during the flight. In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Accident Report (Form 6120), submitted by the pilot, he stated during departure it felt as if a gust of wind struck the airplane. The airplane climbed to the right and the nose dropped straight down, impacting the lake. The winds reported at the closest airport, 10 nautical miles to the east, were from 280 degrees at 4 knots. An examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed flight control continuity from the cockpit to all flight control surfaces. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6113Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6113Y-2017-10-31), registration cancelled 2017-10-31, S/N 94029, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SADLER TERRY A MERLIN - Registry model: [Sadler Terry A MERLIN](https://openairdocs.org/model/sadler-terry-a-merlin) (registry code 05610OS) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Subaru ALL MDLS A/B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/subaru-all-mdls-a-b) (registry code 59050, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 94029 - Engines: SUBARU ALL MDLS A/B 400 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Schaff James F - Registered owner: Schaff James F - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: Otisfield, ME - Destination: Otisfield, ME ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 900 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.34 inHg - Observed at: LEW, 10 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 20120317004369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120317004369A), Mar 17, 2012: Sadler Terry A MERLIN, Otisfield, ME, Destroyed. The purpose of the flight was to test fly the aircraft after the installation of inflatable floats. Upon the airplane becoming airborne, [privacy data omitted]… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 3, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83156. 10.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372132&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Aircraft from front (photo courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372133&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Aircraft%20from%20front%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Aircraft from rear (photo courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372134&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Aircraft%20from%20rear%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3: Aircraft from right side (photo courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 2.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372135&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%3A%20Aircraft%20from%20right%20side%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 5, .PDF, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372136&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 6, .PDF, 58 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40372137&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.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.