# NTSB ERA21LA051: J&J Ultralights Sea-Wing, N947RC, Placida, FL, November 22, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: November 22, 2020, 16:33 local (21:33 UTC)
- Place: Placida, FL
- Coordinates: 26.858904, -82.250228 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.8589&lon=-82.2502&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 102329
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA051
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102329/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102329
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA051

## Probable cause

The pilot/owner’s improper preflight inspection of the weight-shift trike, which resulted in a loss of control at takeoff due to an improperly adjusted wingtip.

## Findings

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

- [Wing structure: flight surfaces (wing)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035750): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [J&J Ultralights SEA WING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035750/cases.md?model=05902AC), [All aircraft, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035750/cases.md)
- [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [J&J Ultralights SEA WING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=05902AC), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [J&J Ultralights SEA WING, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05902AC), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot departing from a road in the weight-shift control aircraft. At takeoff, the aircraft “pulled to the left” and struck a tree off the paved surface as the pilot aborted the takeoff. Afterwards, the pilot stated there were no mechanical deficiencies with the aircraft that would have precluded normal operations, and that the pull was likely due to an improperly adjusted wingtip.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N947RC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N947RC-2022-10-06), registration cancelled 2022-10-06, S/N SWJ583604038, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: J&J Ultralights Sea-Wing
- Registry model: [J&J Ultralights SEA WING](https://openairdocs.org/model/j-j-ultralights-sea-wing) (registry code 05902AC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Weight-shift
- Serial number: SWJ583604038
- Year built: 2006
- Airframe hours: 165.8
- Engines: Rotax 582 64 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 12, 2020, 2 hours before
- Destination: Same as departure
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; injuries: serious; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 220 total, 30 in this make and model, 200 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 10° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: KPGD, 15 nm away
- METAR: KPGD 222253Z 01006KT 10SM FEW043 24/19 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP162 T02440194

## 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 20201122015979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201122015979A), Nov 22, 2020: J&J Ultralights SEA WING, Placida, FL, Substantial damage. On November 22, 2020, at 1733 EDT, a sea-wing ultralight, N947RC, [privacy data omitted]albuquerque, new Mexico, but sold and not yet registered to…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 26, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102329. 2.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12532096&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1%20Pilot_Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident_Incident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Police report narrative (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 133 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12530653&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Police%20Report%20Narrative_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 451 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12531862&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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