# NTSB ERA15CA020: Airborne Windsports PTY Edge XT 912 L, N29ME, Sebring, FL, October 18, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: October 18, 2014, 15:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Sebring, FL - Coordinates: 27.456388, -81.342498 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4564&lon=-81.3425&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: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - NTSB case key (mKey): 90271 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA15CA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90271/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90271 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA020 ## Probable cause The student pilot's inadvertent interference with the weight-shift capability of the airplane during the initial climb, resulting in a loss of airplane control and hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Flight control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022700): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE XT-912-L, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022700/cases.md?model=060003A), [All aircraft, 65 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022700/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE XT-912-L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=060003A), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE XT-912-L, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=060003A), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/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: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE XT-912-L, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=060003A), [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: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE XT-912-L, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=060003A), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the instructor pilot, he was beginning a local, instructional flight with a student in his weight-shift-control airplane. During the initial climb, the weight-shift capability of the wing became inadvertently restricted by the student, who was seated in the front seat. Due to the tandem seating arrangement, the instructor was unable to get the student's attention to release control. The student was "younger and stronger" than the instructor. The airplane rolled and impacted hard on the grassy area adjacent to the runway. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that substantial damage resulted to the airframe's tubular structure and the wing. The instructor pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative According to the instructor pilot, he was beginning a local, instructional flight with a student in his weight-shift-control airplane. During the initial climb, the weight-shift capability of the wing became inadvertently restricted by the student, who was seated in the front seat. Due to the tandem seating arrangement, the instructor was unable to get the student's attention to release control. The student was "younger and stronger" than the instructor. The airplane rolled and impacted hard on the grassy area adjacent to the runway. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that substantial damage resulted to the airframe's tubular structure and the wing. The instructor pilot reported that there were no mechanical problems with the airplane at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N29ME](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N29ME-2015-04-08), registration cancelled 2015-04-08, S/N XT-912-0334, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRBORNE WINDSPORTS PTY LTD EDGE XT 912 L (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Airborne Windsports PTY EDGE XT-912-L](https://openairdocs.org/model/airborne-windsports-pty-edge-xt-912-l) (registry code 060003A) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul-series) (registry code 55571, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: XT-912-0334 - Year built: 2009 - Airframe hours: 55 - Engines: Rotax 912 Series 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 27, 2014, 5 hours before - Departed: SEF, Sebring, FL - Destination: SEF, Sebring, FL - Airport: SEF, Sebring Regional, runway 01, 5,234 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 61; injuries: none; flight instructor, sport pilot, recreational; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review July 24, 2014; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 508 total, 144 in this make and model, 455 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days - Student pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 60 total, 20 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: SEF ## 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 20141018018879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141018018879A), Oct 18, 2014: Airborne Windsports Pty Ltd EDGE XT-912-L, Sebring, FL, Substantial damage. Pilot unable to counteract his student?s inputs into the weight shift controls which cause the aircraft to have a hard landing, caused substantial damage to… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 9, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90271. 5.4 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=40419803&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419804&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Flight Instructor (item 3, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419805&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Flight%20Instructor-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Main Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of Flight Instructor) (item 4, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40419806&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Main%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Flight%20Instructor)-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.