# NTSB ERA16LA199: American Legend AL3, N156WB, Elberta, AL, May 31, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 31, 2016, 10:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Elberta, AL - Coordinates: 30.424444, -87.535278 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.4244&lon=-87.5353&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 2, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: Continental Motors, FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 93287 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA16LA199 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93287/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93287 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA16LA199 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because the engine ran normally during a postaccident engine test run with no anomalies noted. ## 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: [American Legend AL3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [American Legend AL3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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: [American Legend AL3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=060002K), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The sport pilot reported that he had conducted two uneventful touch-and-go landings in the light-sport airplane. After the pilot climbed the airplane to about 200 ft above ground level, the engine lost total power. The pilot tried to turn back to the airport, but the airplane lost altitude and struck some trees about 50 ft short of the runway. The pilot observed fuel "pouring out" of the airplane and shut off the electrical system before exiting the airplane. During a postaccident test run of the engine at several power settings, the engine performed normally with no anomalies noted. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On May 31, 2016, about 1045 central daylight time, an American Legend Aircraft Company AL3, N156WB, collided with terrain following a total loss of engine power after takeoff from Perdido Winds Airpark (AL08), Elberta, Alabama. The sport pilot incurred minor injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The airplane was registered to and operated by MHOC LLC, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.The pilot was a mechanic for the company that owned the light-sport airplane. He stated that the airplane was due for a condition inspection, and he wanted to "warm the airplane up" before starting the inspection. He arrived at 82J and fueled the airplane with 17 gallons of fuel, waited a period of time, and sampled fuel from the fuel tanks. He completed the preflight inspection and took off for AL08. The pilot made one full stop landing at AL08, taxied back, and departed runway 35 for two touch-and-go landings. After an uneventful touch-and-go landing to runway 35, he made a teardrop turn and planned to land on runway 17. He again performed another uneventful touch and go landing, and while climbing out decided he would return for another full stop landing on runway 35. During his slight right climbing turn, the engine "just quit." The airplane was approximately 200 feet above the ground, and he attempted to continue the turn back to runway 35; however, the airplane subsequently impacted trees about 50 feet short of the runway. The pilot observed fuel "pouring out" and shut off the electrical system prior to exiting the airplane. The engine was then sent to the manufacturer for a full power test-run. The engine was set on an engine run stand and a slave carburetor was installed, since the original carburetor was fractured during impact. The engine started immediately and was idled for several minutes to warm up before the high power runs. The engine was run at several different power settings, from idle to full power, and all parameters were within the manufacturer's specification limits. After approximately 30 minutes of run time, the engine was shut down and no anomalies were noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N156WB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N156WB-2018-11-20), registration cancelled 2018-11-20, S/N AL-1173, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN LEGEND AIRCRAFT CO AL3 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [American Legend AL3](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-legend-al3) (registry code 060002K) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-200-D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-200-d) (registry code 17409, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: AL-1173 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 275.7 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200-D 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 28, 2015 - Departed: AL08, Elberta, AL - Destination: AL08, Elberta, AL - Airport: AL08, Perdido Winds Airpark, runway 35, 3,100 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review February 12, 2016; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 196 total, 190 in this make and model, 163 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: JKA, 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 20160531010689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160531010689A), May 31, 2016: American Legend Aircraft Co AL3, Elberta, AL, Substantial damage. Aircraft had been performing touch and go landings. On climbout from the third touch and go at 200 feet AGL the engine suffered a total loss of power. The… ## Other investigations on N156WB (1) 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. - [NTSB ERA14CA134](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA134), Feb 25, 2014: American Legend AL3 (N156WB), Gulf Shores, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The student pilot's incorrect rudder input, which resulted in a ground loop and collision with a runway sign. ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 21, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93287. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455512&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455513&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455514&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Employee Statement (item 4, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455515&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Employee%20Statement-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Telephone Interview, Pilot (item 5, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455516&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Telephone%20Interview,%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation (item 6, .PDF, 116 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455517&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation-Master.PDF - Investigation Photographs (Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 4 photos, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40455518&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs%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.