ERA14LA465

NTSB accident investigation · Britten-Norman BN-2A · Ceiba, PR · September 28, 2014

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 28, 2014, 10:00 local (13:00 UTC)
Place
Ceiba, PR
Injuries
1 minor, 6 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Taxi
Aircraft
N906GDBritten-Norman BN-2A
Defining event
Taxi-to runway: Miscellaneous/other
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 20, 2016
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
Eastern Region Aviation
Parties
FAA
FAA report
20140928020909A
Case key
90223

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot’s loss of consciousness during taxi for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

Findings · 2

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The airline transport pilot was taxiing the airplane for takeoff for the on-demand air taxi commuter flight. The pilot reported that, while taxiing to the runway, he felt dizzy and lost consciousness. The airplane subsequently veered off the taxiway into a ditch with the engines were still running. The pilot shut down the engines and instructed the passengers to exit the airplane. The pilot reported that it was hot and that he hadn't eaten breakfast before the accident flight; however, neither of these things should have caused the pilot to lose consciousness without other health issues involved. A review of the pilot's medical history revealed no evidence that he was taking any medications or that he had visited health care providers for any medical issues. The reason that the pilot lost consciousness could not be determined based on the available information.

Factual narrative

On September 28, 2014, about 1000 Atlantic daylight time, a Britten-Norman BN-2A-26, N906GD, collided with a ditch after the pilot reported that he lost consciousness while taxiing for takeoff at Jose Aponte de la Torre Airport (TJRV), Ceiba, Puerto Rico. The airline transport pilot received minor injuries and the six passengers were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was registered to Air Charter Incorporated, and operated by Air Flamenco under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 135 as an on-demand air taxi flight from TJRV to Benjamin Rivera Noriega Airport (TJCP), Isla de Culebra, Puerto Rico.The pilot reported that prior to the flight, it was extremely hot that day and he did not eat breakfast. While taxiing to the runway, he felt dizzy, lost consciousness, and subsequently the airplane veered off the taxiway and came to rest in a ditch. When the pilot regained consciousness the engines were still running and the passengers were asking the pilot "what should they do." The pilot shut down the engines and instructed the passengers to open and exit through the rear of the airplane. The passengers exited through the rear doors and gathered on the taxiway behind the airplane. The pilot exited the airplane, verified that there were no injuries, and called for emergency services. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the nose gear firewall. A review of the pilot's most recent medical evaluation dated September 25, 2014, for an FAA first-class medical certificate, revealed that the pilot was in good health and only had limitations for wearing corrective lenses. There were no reports of any medications or any visits to health care providers in any of the medical history forms supplied as part of his medical exams. The 0853 recorded weather at the TJRV, included wind from 160 degrees at 5 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, and clear, temperature of 28 degrees C, dew point temperature of 25 degrees C, and an altimeter setting of 30.01 inches of mercury.

Aircraft

Registration
N906GD
Reported as
Britten-Norman BN-2A (26)
Category
Airplane
Serial number
3008
Built
1984
Airframe hours
15,926
Engines
Lycoming O-540-E4C5, 260 horsepower, reciprocatingLycoming O-540-E4C5, 260 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Part 135
Operator
Air Charter Inc, doing business as Air Flamenco
Registered owner
Air Charter Inc
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
AAIP · September 9, 2014 · 24 hours before
Departed
TJRV · Ceiba, PR
Destination
TJCP · Isla de Culebra, PR
Airport
TJRV · Jose Aponte de la Torre Airpor, runway 7/25, 11,000 × 150 ft, concrete
Equipment
Stall warning system

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
56
Injuries
Minor
Certificates
Commercial, Airline transport
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
September 1, 2013
Seat
Left
Restraint
3-point
Flight hours
22,000 total · 4,500 in this make and model · 14,000 as pilot in command · 230 in the last 90 days · 75 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
160° at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
82 °F, dew point 77 °F
Altimeter
30.01 inHg
Observed at
TJNR

Docket · 3

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 8, 2016, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.2 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.