# NTSB ERA19LA015: Avid Avid Flyer, N3HH, Grant-Valkaria, FL, October 13, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 13, 2018, 12:05 local (16:05 UTC) - Place: Grant-Valkaria, FL - Coordinates: 27.93487, -80.607877 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.9349&lon=-80.6079&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 98489 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19LA015 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98489/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98489 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA015 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to a carburetor malfunction, which resulted in a forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine fuel and control: fuel control/carburetor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Long Charles Jackson AVID FLYER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md?model=05620BC), [All aircraft, 195 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md) - [Engine fuel and control: fuel controlling system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057320): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [Long Charles Jackson AVID FLYER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057320/cases.md?model=05620BC), [All aircraft, 59 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057320/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Long Charles Jackson AVID FLYER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05620BC), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Long Charles Jackson AVID FLYER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05620BC), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Long Charles Jackson AVID FLYER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05620BC), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was in cruise flight when the engine lost partial power, then total power. He restarted the engine and briefly regained partial power, but shortly thereafter, the engine again lost all power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a road, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage. A test run of the engine indicated no anomalies; however, further inspection revealed a stuck float needle in the carburetor and a clogged carburetor vent line, which could have led to an excess vacuum in the carburetor and restricted fuel flow. It is likely that this restriction caused a transient condition that resulted in the loss of engine power that was not replicated during the test run. ## Factual narrative On October 13, 2018, about 1205 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Avid Flyer, N3HH, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Palm Bay, Florida. The private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the airplane was in cruise flight at 1,200 ft mean sea level when the engine rpm began to decrease; the engine then lost all power. He was able to restart the engine but could not restore full power. The engine continued to run at a low idle rpm before again losing total power. The pilot chose to perform a forced landing to a road, during which the airplane touched down “firmly”, and the landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane and noted substantial damage to the fuselage tube structure. During a test run, the engine started and ran for several minutes around 3,500 rpm. Both magnetos produced an acceptable drop in rpm when checked. The engine was subsequently sent to an overhaul shop, where further inspection revealed a stuck float needle in the carburetor and a clogged carburetor vent line. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3HH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3HH), registered now, S/N 1066D, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AVID AVID FLYER (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Long Charles Jackson AVID FLYER](https://openairdocs.org/model/long-charles-jackson-avid-flyer) (registry code 05620BC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1066D - Year built: 1993 - Airframe hours: 63 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 30, 2018, 17 hours before - Departed: OBE, Okeechobee, FL - Destination: X59, Valkaria, FL - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 12, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 110 total, 14 in this make and model, 50 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: MLB, 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 20181013019919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181013019919A), Oct 13, 2018: Long Charles Jackson AVID FLYER, Melbourne Beach, FL, Substantial damage. Initial event report: Melbourne Beach, FL: N3HH, experimental, landed on highway A1A due to engine failure. Landing gear collapsed during landing. POB: 2,… ## Other investigations on N3HH (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 ERA23LA325](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA325), Aug 3, 2023: Long Charles Jackson Avid Flyer (N3HH), Wetumpka, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion because of a leaking fuel drain valve. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 15, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98489. 6.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11767382&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11770382&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC-%20FAA%20Inspector-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 474 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11768429&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.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.