# NTSB ERA17LA247: Aeroprakt A 20 Vista Cruiser, N55US, Shirley, NY, July 17, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 16, 2017, 20:10 local (Jul 17, 2017, 00:10 UTC) - Place: Shirley, NY - Coordinates: 40.821945, -72.866943 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.8219&lon=-72.8669&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 25, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95600 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA17LA247 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95600/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95600 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA17LA247 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent activation of the engine's choke control during a downdraft encounter, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeroprakt A-20 VISTA CRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md?model=05901O7), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md) - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeroprakt A-20 VISTA CRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=05901O7), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md) - [Engine controls](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057600): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Aeroprakt A-20 VISTA CRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057600/cases.md?model=05901O7), [All aircraft, 51 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057600/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Aeroprakt A-20 VISTA CRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05901O7), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Aeroprakt A-20 VISTA CRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05901O7), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aeroprakt A-20 VISTA CRUISER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05901O7), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot reported that he was conducting touch-and-go landings and that, while on final approach, the experimental, light sport airplane encountered a downdraft, and the engine lost total power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine or glide the airplane to the runway, and it impacted trees. The engine was test run successfully several times, and no anomalies were noted. The engine's choke control was located near the throttle lever. During the test runs, the engine lost total power if the choke control was moved about halfway (1 inch). It is likely that the pilot's hand was on the throttle lever and that it inadvertently bumped the choke control during the downdraft encounter, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 2017, about 2010 eastern daylight time, an experimental light sport Aeroprakt A-20 Vista Cruiser, N55US, was substantially damaged during a forced landing into trees, following a total loss of engine power on final approach to Brookhaven Airport (HWV), Shirley, New York. The private pilot was not injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.The pilot reported that he was performing touch-and-go landings to runway 24 at HWV. About 700 feet above ground level, the airplane encountered a downdraft and the engine lost all power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine and realized that the airplane would not glide all the way to the runway. He elected to land in the tops of trees approximately .3 mile from the runway threshold. The airplane subsequently contacted the tree tops and descended left wing low to the ground. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The airplane was equipped with a Rotax 912 S, 100-horsepower engine. Subsequent examination and successful test-runs of the engine by the pilot and FAA inspectors did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The engine operated continuously at multiple power settings, including full power. The engine's choke control was located in the vicinity of the throttle lever. During one of the test-runs, the pilot and FAA inspectors noted that when the choke control was moved approximately halfway (1 inch), the engine lost all power. The pilot and inspectors believed that during the downdraft/turbulence encounter, the pilot's hand on the throttle accidentally bumped the choke control, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N55US](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N55US), registered now, S/N 047 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AEROPRAKT A 20 VISTA CRUISER (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Aeroprakt A-20 VISTA CRUISER](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeroprakt-a-20-vista-cruiser) (registry code 05901O7) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 047 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 430 - Engines: Rotax 912 S 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 25, 2016, 22 hours before - Departed: HWV, Shirley, NY - Destination: HWV, Shirley, NY - Airport: HWV, Brookhaven Airport, runway 24, 4,200 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Airframe parachute ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 11, 2016; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 400 total, 110 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: HWV, 1 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 20170716014559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170716014559A), Jul 16, 2017: Aeroprakt A-20 VISTA CRUISER, Shirley, NY, Substantial damage. Engine stoped on final approach to Brookhaven calabro airport, Shirley, NY after aircraft experienced a strong downdraft sink at approximately 700 feet. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 13, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95600. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 276 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457898&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Interview Summaries (item 2, .PDF, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457899&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summaries-Master.PDF - Photo Array (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 3 photos, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457900&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.