# NTSB ERA14LA035: Airborne Edge Executive, N927H, Eustis, FL, October 3, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 3, 2013, 08:33 local (12:33 UTC) - Place: Eustis, FL - Coordinates: 28.839445, -81.629997 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8394&lon=-81.6300&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 August 14, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 88381 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14LA035 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88381/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88381 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA035 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent stalling of the wing following a total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examinations, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Airborne EDGE EXECUTIVE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=05621MS), [All aircraft, 991 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Airborne EDGE EXECUTIVE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05621MS), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Airborne EDGE EXECUTIVE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=05621MS), [All aircraft, 1,398 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/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: [Airborne EDGE EXECUTIVE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05621MS), [All aircraft, 3,825 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Airborne EDGE EXECUTIVE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05621MS), [All aircraft, 5,010 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: [Airborne EDGE EXECUTIVE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05621MS), [All aircraft, 10,153 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had successfully performed three takeoffs and landings with his instructor earlier that day; no discrepancies were reported with the engine during the 30-minute flight. The pilot was signed off for his solo flight, and he began the flight with 6 gallons of fuel. The engine quit at the departure end of the runway when the airplane was about 400 feet above ground level. Witnesses, including the pilot's flight instructor, reported observing the airplane pitch down consistent with the wing stalling. The airplane impacted the ground hard, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane and serious injury to the pilot. The examination of the airframe revealed no discrepancies with the flight controls. The examination of the engine revealed no evidence of piston scoring, which would occur if the engine had seized. Further, no issues with the air induction system were found; the carburetors were not inspected. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On October 3, 2013, about 0833 eastern daylight time, an Airborne Edge Executive weight shift control aircraft, N927H, registered to and operated by a private individual, was landed hard during a forced landing shortly after takeoff from Mid Florida Air Service Airport (X55), Eustis, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 instructional flight from X55. The airplane sustained substantial damage and the pilot, the sole occupant sustained serious injuries. The flight originated about 1 minute earlier from X55. The pilot had successfully performed 3 takeoff's and landing's earlier that day with his instructor and was then signed off for solo flight. He departed with about 6 gallons of fuel and about the departure end of the runway at 350 feet above ground level, the engine suddenly quit. He turned to the right towards a field then back to the left to line up for the field, and just before touchdown he reported he over-flared. The airplane then hit, bounced 20 feet into the air, cleared a 3 foot-tall fence, then touched down and came to rest. The pilot's flight instructor reported that the previous 3 takeoff's and landings during a 30 minute flight were uneventful; there were no discrepancies with the engine during the flight. He witnessed the accident flight and noted that when the flight was at the departure end of the runway, he observed the aircraft bank hard to the left then saw the nose pitch down. He did not witness the impact but went to the site. Upon arrival the pilot was out of the aircraft, conscious. He asked the pilot what happened and he said the engine quit. He (flight instructor) reported that he was too far away to hear the engine. Following the accident he recovered the aircraft. A witness reported hearing the engine "cut-out" then observed the aircraft climbing, followed by the engine "shut down again." The witness reported seeing the aircraft climb to 40 feet, then reported the engine, "cut out completely and [the] aircraft nose dived at that point." The accident occurred during the Federal Government shutdown in October 2013; therefore, there was no federal inspection of the accident site, aircraft, or engine by FAA and/or NTSB Personnel. Additionally, the aircraft was sold before being investigated by NTSB. The pilot's flight instructor reported inspecting the airframe and engine following recovery and stated there was nothing wrong with the flight controls. He also noted the fuel lines were full of fuel but the sight level was empty; he attributed that to be because it was broken at the bottom of the fuel tank. He looked into the exhaust port of the cylinders and did not see any scoring of the piston; he reported the cylinders looked perfect. He did not inspect the carburetor bowls, and reported they remained attached. The engine controls remained connected, and he did not observe any issues with the air induction system.He reported that the mast and base tube were broke in half, and one blade of the three bladed composite ground adjustable propeller was broken. No determination was made as to the reason for the reported loss of engine power. The pilot did not return the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report that was sent to him via e-mail. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N927H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N927H), registered now, S/N 582-179, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRBORNE (AUSTRALIA) EDGE EXECUTIVE (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Airborne EDGE EXECUTIVE](https://openairdocs.org/model/airborne-edge-executive) (registry code 05621MS) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: 582-179 - Year built: 1996 - Engines: Rotax 582 64 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Operator: Brook A. Hall - Registered owner: Morrison Robert J - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Departed: X55, Eustis, FL - Destination: X55, Eustis, FL - Airport: X55, Mid Florida Air Service, runway 36, 3,200 × 80 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: serious; sport pilot; medical: sport pilot; seat: front; restraint: lap only ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Icing: Unknown - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: LEE, 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 20131003020999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131003020999A), Oct 3, 2013: Airborne (Australia) EDGE EXECUTIVE, Eustis, FL, Substantial damage. At 0900 local on Monday October 21, 2013 I received notification from my flm about an accident/incident that occurred on October 03, 2013 at the mid Florida… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 18, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88381. 4.0 MB in all. - Weather Report and Record (item 1, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411312&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report%20and%20Record-Master.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 188 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411313&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Report from Local Agency – Lake County Sheriff’s Office (item 3, .PDF, 309 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411314&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Report%20from%20Local%20Agency%20%E2%80%93%20Lake%20County%20Sheriff%E2%80%99s%20Office-Redacted.PDF - NTSB Record of Conversations (item 4, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411315&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Record%20of%20Conversations-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 – Digital Picture Provided by Lake County Sheriff’s Office. View of the Aircraft at the Accident Site. (item 5, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411316&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93%20Digital%20Picture%20Provided%20by%20Lake%20County%20Sheriff%E2%80%99s%20Office.%20View%20of%20the%20Aircraft%20at%20the%20Accident%20Site.-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Digital Picture Provided by Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Close-Up View of the Aircraft at the Accident Site. (item 6, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411317&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Digital%20Picture%20Provided%20by%20Lake%20County%20Sheriff%E2%80%99s%20Office.%20Close-Up%20View%20of%20the%20Aircraft%20at%20the%20Accident%20Site.-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Digital Picture Provided by Lake County Sheriff’s Office. Another View of the Aircraft at the Accident Site. (item 7, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411318&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Digital%20Picture%20Provided%20by%20Lake%20County%20Sheriff%E2%80%99s%20Office.%20Another%20View%20of%20the%20Aircraft%20at%20the%20Accident%20Site.-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.