# NTSB ERA21LA166: Jabiru USA Sport J250-SP, N236X, Fort Pierce, FL, March 30, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 30, 2021, 10:57 local (14:57 UTC) - Place: Fort Pierce, FL · canal - Coordinates: 27.494306, -80.53901 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.4943&lon=-80.5390&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 102845 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA166 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102845/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102845 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA166 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on available information. ## 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; cases with it: [Jabiru USA Sport J250-SP, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=060001T), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Jabiru USA Sport J250-SP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=060001T), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible; cases with it: [Jabiru USA Sport J250-SP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=060001T), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Jabiru USA Sport J250-SP, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=060001T), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Jabiru USA Sport J250-SP, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=060001T), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while in cruise flight, the engine ran rough then smoothed right out. The pilot elected to return to the airport and the engine roughness increased. He applied carburetor heat and cycled the magnetos. When operating on the left magneto the engine stopped, then it started again when the selector was placed back to the BOTH position. The airplane was shaking, and the pilot was unable to maintain altitude so he elected to perform a precautionary landing on a dirt road. The left wing stuck tree branches, and the airplane spun around and came to rest submerged in a canal adjacent to the road. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Although the weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of carburetor icing at glide power, the pilot reported that he used carburetor heat, which would have prevented the accumulation of ice. The reason for the total loss of engine power could not be determined based on available information. ## Factual narrative On March 30, 2021, about 1057 eastern daylight time, a Jabiru USA Sport Aircraft J250-SP, N236X, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Fort Pierce, Florida. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, about 10 minutes after takeoff, while in cruise flight at 2,500 ft mean sea level, the engine “got rough, then smoothed right out.” He made a 180° turn to return to the airport and the engine “got very rough.” He turned the carburetor heat ON and checked the magnetos. When he switched from BOTH to the right magneto, there was no change. When he switched from BOTH to the left magneto the engine stopped, but then started again when he switched back to BOTH. The airplane was shaking and he was unable to maintain altitude so he elected to make a precautionary landing on a dirt road alongside a canal. As the airplane approached the road, the pilot maneuvered to avoid large trees; however, during the landing the left wing struck tree branches and the airplane spun around coming to rest in the tidal canal. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the accident site, the airplane’s left wing was mostly separated, and the entire airplane was submerged. A detailed engine examination supervised by the FAA inspector revealed no anomalies. The engine’s crankshaft was rotated by hand, and internal and valve train continuity was established. Fuel was present throughout the fuel system, carburetor, and fuel filters, and the fuel was absent of debris. A small amount of water was present in the carburetor. Both magnetos produced spark. At 1053, the weather reported at St. Lucie County International Airport, about 9 miles east of the accident site, included a temperature of 28°C and a dew point of 19°C. The calculated relative humidity at this temperature and dewpoint was 94%. Review of the icing probability chart contained in Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 revealed that the weather conditions at the time of the accident were "conducive to serious icing at glide [idle] power." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N236X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N236X-2023-02-04), registration cancelled 2023-02-04, S/N 363, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: JABIRU USA SPORT AIRCRAFT J250-SP - Registry model: [Jabiru USA Sport J250-SP](https://openairdocs.org/model/jabiru-usa-sport-j250-sp) (registry code 060001T) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 3300](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (registry code 34801, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 363 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 386 - Engines: Jabiru 3300A 120 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 25, 2021 - Departed: KFPR, Fort Pierce, FL - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Satellite tracking device, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: minor; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 163 total, 148 in this make and model, 64 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.20 inHg - Observed at: FPR, 9 nm away - METAR: KFPR 301453Z 13015KT 10SM FEW027 28/19 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP226 T02780189 51016 ## 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 20210330006129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210330006129A), Mar 30, 2021: Jabiru USA Sport Aircraft LLC J250-SP, Fort Pierce, FL, Substantial damage. The pilot of N236X, an slsa Jabiru sport aircraft on 03/30/2021 departed ft. Pierce (kfpr) on a pleasure flight to the west of the airport and after 10 minutes… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 26, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102845. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14026558&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 129 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14036509&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20FAA%20Inspector-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 114 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12700036&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Retention-Release-of-Wreckage-Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14165896&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. --- 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.