# NTSB ERA20LA079: Rans S12, N73KA, Titusville, FL, January 16, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 16, 2020, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Titusville, FL - Coordinates: 28.622499, -80.835281 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.6225&lon=-80.8353&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 100823 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20LA079 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100823/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100823 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA079 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence. ## 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: [Anderson Kathy RANS S12XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=0560698), [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. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Anderson Kathy RANS S12XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0560698), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during the initial climbout about 200 ft above ground level, the engine stopped. The pilot made a 180° turn and attempted to land. The airplane impacted the ground and flipped over inverted. Examination of the airplane revealed that the cockpit and fuselage were crushed. Both horizontal stabilizers were bent upward and buckled. A postaccident examination of the engine and its components, which included several successful engine runs, revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On January 16, 2020, about 1330 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built RANS S12XL airplane, N73KA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Arthur Dunn Air Park (X21), Titusville, Florida. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a personal flight under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot, during the initial climbout about 200 ft above ground level, the engine stopped. The pilot made a 180° descending left turn, while maintaining 60 mph. While attempting to flare and land, the nose and left main gear impacted the ground. The airplane flipped over and came to rest inverted. Examination of the airplane revealed that the cockpit and fuselage were crushed upward. Both horizontal stabilizers were bent upward and buckled. Examination of the engine and its components, which included several successful engine runs, revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N73KA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N73KA-2021-04-10), registration cancelled 2021-04-10, S/N 10980858, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RANS S12 (XL) - Registry model: [Anderson Kathy RANS S12XL](https://openairdocs.org/model/anderson-kathy-rans-s12xl) (registry code 0560698) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Viking 90](https://openairdocs.org/engine/viking-90) (registry code 63989, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 10980858 - Year built: 1999 - Airframe hours: 361 - Engines: Viking 90 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 28, 2019, 25 hours before - Departed: X21, Titusville, FL - Destination: X21, Titusville, FL - Airport: X21, Arthur Dunn Air Park, runway 04, 1,805 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,147 total, 325 in this make and model, 1,085 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: KX21 ## 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 20200116005119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200116005119A), Jan 16, 2020: Anderson Kathy RANS S12XL, Titusville, FL, Substantial damage. On January 16, 2020, at approximately 1330 local time an amateur built rans, S-12 departed Arthur Dunn on a short flight. A preflight was performed and the… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 12, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100823. 7.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9371795&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20LA079_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9372339&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=K%20anderson%20N73KA%20statement-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record pilot telephone interview (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9372537&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20Pilot%20telephone%20interview%20LA079-Rel.pdf - Engine examination summary - viking aircraft engines (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9371999&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20failure%20fact%20finding%201-17-20-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 192 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9372152&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA079-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.