# NTSB ERA16LA086: Wayland John H Avid Mark IV, N72MT, Minneola, FL, January 9, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 9, 2016, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Minneola, FL - Coordinates: 28.627777, -81.80278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.6278&lon=-81.8028&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 May 23, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 92555 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA16LA086 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92555/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92555 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA086 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the crosswind turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Wayland John H AVID MARK IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05610GA), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Wayland John H AVID MARK IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05610GA), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [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: [Wayland John H AVID MARK IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=05610GA), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/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: [Wayland John H AVID MARK IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05610GA), [All aircraft, 3,820 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: [Wayland John H AVID MARK IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05610GA), [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: [Wayland John H AVID MARK IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05610GA), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The sport pilot of the experimental, amateur-built, light sport airplane performed a takeoff and initiated a steep, left, crosswind turn to avoid horses off the end of the runway. About 300 ft above the ground, he smelled "burning wires" and thought he saw a "wisp of smoke." The engine "sputtered then died." The left wing stalled, the airplane rolled inverted, and entered a downward spiral. The airplane collided with trees and terrain before coming to rest, inverted, in a grassy field. Examination of the airframe and engine found no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction that would have prevented normal operation. The pilot received his sport pilot certificate about 4 months before the accident and had accumulated about 120 hours of total flight time at the time of the accident. It is likely that, following the total loss of engine power, the pilot failed to reduce the airplane's angle of attack either sufficiently or quickly enough to prevent an aerodynamic stall/spin. ## Factual narrative On January 9, 2016, about 1600 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built Avid Mark IV, N72MT, was substantially damaged following a forced landing after takeoff from Florida Flying Gators Ultralight Flightpark (3FD4), Minneola, Florida. The sport pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was privately owned and operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day, visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.The pilot reported that, after takeoff, he turned onto the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern. He performed a steep turn after takeoff to avoid horses off the end of the runway. He then noticed the smell of "burning wires" and "may have seen a wisp of smoke." At 300 feet above the ground, and while still climbing, the engine "sputtered, then died." He made a radio call that he was returning to the runway. The left wing then stalled and the airplane rolled inverted and entered a downward spiral. The airplane collided with two trees during the descent before colliding with the terrain. The airplane came to rest in a grassy area, inverted. Inspectors with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. They observed structural damage to fuselage, empennage, and both wings. An FAA airworthiness inspector examined the engine and found no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction. There were no arcing or burn signatures on the engine's electrical wiring or connectors. A postaccident test run of the engine could not be performed due to impact damage. The pilot received his sport pilot certificate on September 2, 2015, after taking a two-week training course. He reported 120 hours of total flight time, including 100 hours as pilot-in-command. He also reported 65 hours in the accident airplane make and model, all as pilot-in-command. He stated that, after the accident, he took additional lessons with his original flight instructor to practice emergency procedures, stalls, and stall recovery. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N72MT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N72MT-2019-02-21), registration cancelled 2019-02-21, S/N 1431D, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WAYLAND JOHN H AVID MARK IV (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Wayland John H AVID MARK IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/wayland-john-h-avid-mark-iv) (registry code 05610GA) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1431D - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 350 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 3FD4, Minneola, FL - Destination: 3FD4, Minneola, FL - Airport: 3FD4, Florida Flying Gators - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: serious; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review March 1, 2016; seat: left; flight hours: 120 total, 65 in this make and model, 100 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.85 inHg - Observed at: LEE, 11 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 20160109020909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160109020909A), Jan 9, 2016: Wayland John H AVID MARK IV, Minneola, FL, Destroyed. The PIC stated that earlier on the day of the accident (1/9/16) he had made a successful flight around the traffic pattern in N72MT and then landed and shut… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 12, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92555. 4.7 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=40451049&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451050&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement - Operations (item 3, .PDF, 671 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451051&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement%20-%20Operations-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement - Airworthiness (item 4, .PDF, 106 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451052&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement%20-%20Airworthiness-Master.PDF - Photo Array (Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 2 photos, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40451053&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array%20(Courtesy%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.