# NTSB ERA21LA014: Pipistrel Alpha Trainer, N227PF, Rural Hall, NC, October 8, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 8, 2020, 16:15 local (20:15 UTC)
- Place: Rural Hall, NC · Wooded Area
- Coordinates: 36.272698, -80.293634 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.2727&lon=-80.2936&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: MZI, FAA / FSDO, BMK
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102123
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA014
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102123/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102123
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA014

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control and improper recovery from an unusual attitude, which resulted in an in-flight breakup.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Wing structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035700): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Failure; cases with it: [Pipistrel Italia S R L ALPHA TRAINER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035700/cases.md?model=06001B5), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035700/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Pipistrel Italia S R L ALPHA TRAINER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=06001B5), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Pipistrel Italia S R L ALPHA TRAINER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=06001B5), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)
- [Info processing/decision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041500): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Pipistrel Italia S R L ALPHA TRAINER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041500/cases.md?model=06001B5), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041500/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Pipistrel Italia S R L ALPHA TRAINER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=06001B5), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/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 control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Pipistrel Italia S R L ALPHA TRAINER, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=06001B5), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Pipistrel Italia S R L ALPHA TRAINER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=06001B5), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337); cases with it: [Pipistrel Italia S R L ALPHA TRAINER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md?model=06001B5), [All aircraft, 290 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that the airplane was at 5,000 ft and an engine power setting of 5,000 rpm when he began to pitch and roll to practice a chandelle. At the start of the control inputs for the maneuver, he looked down at his kneeboard and personal electronic device and readjusted its position on his leg and around the control stick. The pilot advised that during this time, he may have released the backpressure on the control stick but continued the turn. While focused on the kneeboard he heard the engine rpm increase, then looked up and realized that the airplane had entered an unusual attitude. During this same time, he became disoriented and tried to correct visually, instead of by reference to the instruments. As such, he inadvertently increased the rate of descent and was unable to determine the airplane’s position as it rapidly gained airspeed. He then heard a “pop” sound and deployed the airplane’s ballistic recovery system (BRS). The BRS system’s parachute deployed successfully, and the airplane came to rest in trees without its left wing. The outboard section of the left wing was subsequently recovered; however, the inboard section was not found. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N227PF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N227PF-2022-06-30), registration cancelled 2022-06-30, S/N 1004 AT 912 LSA, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Pipistrel Alpha Trainer
- Registry model: [Pipistrel Italia S R L ALPHA TRAINER](https://openairdocs.org/model/pipistrel-italia-s-r-l-alpha-trainer) (registry code 06001B5) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul-series) (registry code 55571, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 1004 AT 912 LSA
- Year built: 2019
- Airframe hours: 125.04
- Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 2 80 hp reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Other work use, Part 91
- Operator: Piedmont Flight Training
- Registered owner: Mount Ptisi LLC
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 6, 2020, 27.93 hours before
- Departed: INT, Winston Salem, NC
- Equipment: Airframe parachute, ADS-B, Stall warning system

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 20, 2019; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 921 total, 140 in this make and model, 840 as pilot in command, 128 in the last 90 days, 42 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: KINT, 7 nm away
- METAR: KINT 082054Z VRB03KT 10SM CLR 27/16 A3006 RMK AO2 SLP169 T02720156 56011

## 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 20201008018699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201008018699A), Oct 8, 2020: Pipistrel Italia S R L ALPHA TRAINER, Rural Hall, NC, Substantial damage. Pilot became disoriented (vertigo), aircraft entered unusual attitude, pilot initiated emergency chute deployment, aircraft attitude contributed to probable…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 20, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102123. 1.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 856 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11591908&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Signed%20Docket_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record - information from inspector dan kelly (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11592454&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MEMORANDUM%20FOR%20RECORD-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 12 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11592537&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=PIC%20Statement%20Barker%20Craig_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11591918&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.

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