# NTSB ERA17LA007: James Bruton Flying Flea, N83165, Plymouth, CT, October 6, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 6, 2016, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Plymouth, CT - Coordinates: 41.633335, -73.046669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6333&lon=-73.0467&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report August 10, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 94170 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17LA007 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94170/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94170 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA007 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## 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: [Bruton James W HM14/360 FLYING FLEA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05635CD), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Bruton James W HM14/360 FLYING FLEA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05635CD), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bruton James W HM14/360 FLYING FLEA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05635CD), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis Witnesses reported that they observed the pilot of the experimental, amateur-built airplane performing touch-and-go landings. The airplane flew for about 30 minutes before the engine lost power, and the airplane crashed into trees. The pilot did not recall the accident. Examination of the airframe did not reveal any anomalies. Fuel was observed in the fuel tank, and an examination of the fuel system did not reveal any fuel contamination. Although the wreckage examination revealed that the loss of engine power was likely not related to fuel quantity or fuel contamination, no additional examination of the engine was performed; thus, the reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On October 6, 2016, about 1700 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Flying Flea HM14/360, N83165, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after takeoff from Waterbury Airport (N41), Plymouth, Connecticut. The private pilot was seriously injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight, which originated from N41, about 1630.According to witnesses, the pilot was conducting touch-and-go landings. After about 30 minutes, the engine "sputtered" multiple times and the airplane subsequently descended into trees. The pilot was hospitalized, and according to his wife, he did not recall the accident. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that both wings separated from the fuselage. The airplane was equipped with a BMW R100 motorcycle engine. An undetermined amount of fuel was observed in the fuel tank and examination of the fuel system did not reveal any fuel contamination. An examination of the airframe did not reveal any anomalies and no further examination of the engine was performed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N83165](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N83165-2019-10-05), registration cancelled 2019-10-05, S/N HM14/360-JB-1, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: James Bruton FLYING FLEA (HM14/360) - Registry model: [Bruton James W HM14/360 FLYING FLEA](https://openairdocs.org/model/bruton-james-w-hm14-360-flying-flea) (registry code 05635CD) (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: HM14/360-JB-1 - Year built: 2016 - Engines: McCulloch 72 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: N41, Plymouth, CT - Destination: N41, Plymouth, CT - Airport: N41, Waterbury, runway 17, 2,005 × 135 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 130 total, 130 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.30 inHg - Observed at: OXC, 10 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 20161006021759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161006021759A), Oct 6, 2016: HM14/360 FLYING FLEA, Plymouth, CT, Destroyed. The accident pilot was doing traffic pattern work at Waterbury Airport (N41), located in Plymouth, CT, in what is believed tobe his second flight in flight… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 10, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94170. 497 KB in all. - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 1, .PDF, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484238&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 2, .PDF, 380 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484239&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.