# NTSB ERA14LA309: Simmons William E Aventura 2, N700WS, Rockledge, FL, June 20, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 20, 2014, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Rockledge, FL - Coordinates: 28.323055, -80.69889 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.3231&lon=-80.6989&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 89534 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA14LA309 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89534/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89534 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA309 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed during a forced landing following a loss of engine power, which resulted in a hard landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate inspection of the engine, which resulted in a loose ground wire lug on a fuel pump and the subsequent loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Simmons William E AVENTURA 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05628ZG), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Engine fuel and control: fuel pump](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057314): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Simmons William E AVENTURA 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057314/cases.md?model=05628ZG), [All aircraft, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057314/cases.md) - [Maintenance: scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Simmons William E AVENTURA 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md?model=05628ZG), [All aircraft, 320 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Simmons William E AVENTURA 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05628ZG), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [Simmons William E AVENTURA 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05628ZG), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Simmons William E AVENTURA 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05628ZG), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Simmons William E AVENTURA 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05628ZG), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Simmons William E AVENTURA 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05628ZG), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was conducting touch-and-go landings on a river. About 300 feet above ground level, the engine began to misfire and subsequently failed. The pilot did not have sufficient altitude to switch fuel pumps and attempt an engine restart, so he chose to conduct a forced landing. During the landing flare, the airplane lost lift, landed hard on the water, and nosed over. Examination of the engine found that a ground wire lug on the No. 1 fuel pump was loose, which caused the ground wire to have intermittent contact with the lead and likely caused the fuel pump to malfunction and the engine to subsequently lose power. The most recent conditional inspection was completed about 10 months before the accident. The pilot, who was a certificated experimental aircraft repairman and conducted maintenance on the airplane, stated that he "must have missed this item on his last inspection." ## Factual narrative According to the FAA and airplane maintenance records, the airplane was issued a special airworthiness certificate on October 23, 2009. The airplane's most recent conditional inspection was completed on September 1, 2013. At the time of the inspection, the airplane had accrued approximately 134 hours of operation. On June 20, 2014, at approximately 1500 eastern daylight time (EDT), an experimental amateur built Aventura 2 amphibious airplane, N700WS, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after a loss of engine power in the Indian River near Rockledge, Florida. The commercial pilot and passenger suffered minor injuries. No flight plan was filed for the local personal flight, which was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 According to the pilot, he was conducting touch and go water landings on the Indian River. After the third touch and go landing the pilot entered a climbing left turn, at approximately 300 feet he heard the engine "skip/miss". The pilot elected to level off and turned for the Rockledge Airport (21FA), Rockledge, Florida. Subsequently the engine lost power. The pilot attempted an emergency landing on the river. Upon touchdown the aircraft nosed and incurred substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot and passenger were able to egress themselves from the aircraft. Recorded weather at Patrick Air Force Base (COF) Cocoa Beach, Florida, located approximately 9 miles northeast of the accident site at 1458 included, wind 010 degrees at 9 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, few clouds at 6,000 feet, temperature 28 C, dewpoint 23 C, and altimeter setting of 30.03 inches of mercury. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and pilot records the pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with a rating for airplane multi-engine land, and private pilot privileges for airplane single-engine land and airplane single-engine sea. The pilot received a second class medical January 28, 2014. The pilot reported that he had accrued 17,000 hours of total flight experience, of which 4,000 were in the accident airplane make and model. The airplane came to rest inverted on the water in the Indian River. The airplane was subsequently towed to an island. During an examination of the wreckage, no preimpact malfunctions of the airplane were discovered. Examination of the engine discovered that a ground wire lug on the number 1 fuel pump was loose and the ground wire was making intermittent contact. The pilot had conducted his own maintenance on the aircraft as a certificated experimental aircraft repairman for the accident airplane. He stated that he "must have missed this item on his last inspection." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N700WS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N700WS-2015-02-20), registration cancelled 2015-02-20, S/N AP99WS, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SIMMONS WILLIAM E AVENTURA 2 - Registry model: [Simmons William E AVENTURA 2](https://openairdocs.org/model/simmons-william-e-aventura-2) (registry code 05628ZG) (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: AP99WS - Year built: 2009 - Airframe hours: 134 - Engines: Viking HF110/100 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 1, 2013 - Departed: 21FA, Rockledge, FL - Destination: 21FA, Rockledge, FL - Airport: 21FA, Rockledge Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 81; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 17,000 total, 4,000 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: COF, 9 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 20140620011039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140620011039A), Jun 20, 2014: Simmons William E AVENTURA 2, Rockledge, FL, Destroyed. On June 20, 2014 at approximately 1500 EDT, an aventura 2, experimental amateur built (N700WS), serial #AP99WS, experienced engine failure and landed hard in… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 21, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89534. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415412&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum of Record - Weather (item 2, .PDF, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415413&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Weather-Master.PDF - Memorandum of Record - Simmons (item 3, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415414&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20-%20Simmons-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415415&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - #1 Fuel Pump Ground Wire Lug (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 45 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40415416&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20%231%20Fuel%20Pump%20Ground%20Wire%20Lug%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.