# NTSB ERA21LA305: Tucker Twin, N327TT, Unionville, TN, July 28, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 27, 2021, 19:00 local (Jul 28, 2021, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Unionville, TN - Coordinates: 35.578333, -86.604167 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5783&lon=-86.6042&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103575 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA305 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103575/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103575 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA305 ## Probable cause The loss of directional control during a precautionary landing, which resulted in a collision with a fence post. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action selection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Tucker Timothy E TWIN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md?model=05903P9), [All aircraft, 397 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Tucker Timothy E TWIN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05903P9), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Tucker Timothy E TWIN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05903P9), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Tucker Timothy E TWIN, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05903P9), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during climb out, the engine of the weight-shift control aircraft momentarily lost all power. After leveling off, the engine regained power, and he performed a precautionary landing in a field. The landing was uneventful, but when he applied the brakes, he mistakenly applied the foot throttle. The aircraft accelerated, and he lost directional control. The aircraft impacted a fence post and sustained substantial damage to the airframe. An examination of the engine did not reveal the source of the momentary loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On July 27, 2021, about 1900 central daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Twin weight-shift control aircraft, N327TT, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Unionville, Tennessee. The pilot received serious injuries, and the passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he was on a local flight with a friend. After departure, he was climbing through 500 ft above ground level when the engine momentarily lost all power. After leveling off, engine power was regained, and he conducted a precautionary landing in a field. The landing was uneventful, but when he applied the brakes, he mistakenly applied the foot throttle. The aircraft accelerated, and he lost directional control. The aircraft collided with a fence post and sustained substantial damage to the airframe. Additionally, the engine sustained impact damage and its fuel lines were destroyed. The aircraft was recovered, and during the examination of the engine, the source of the brief loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N327TT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N327TT), registered now, S/N 17092, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TUCKER Twin - Registry model: [Tucker Timothy E TWIN](https://openairdocs.org/model/tucker-timothy-e-twin) (registry code 05903P9) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 583](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-583) (registry code 55577, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift, amateur-built - Serial number: 17092 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 100 - Engines: Rotax 583 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 27, 2021, 0.5 hours before - Departed: Unionville, TN - Destination: Same as departure - Equipment: Video recording device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: rear; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,000 total, 1,800 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: LUG, 30 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 20210727011999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210727011999A), Jul 27, 2021: Tucker Timothy E TWIN, Unionville, TN, Destroyed. On 07/27/2021 N327TT was piloted by [privacy data omitted]. Shortly after takeoff the engine stopped producing power just after takeoff and an emergency off… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 6, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103575. 9.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12724451&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20LA305_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12799740&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20pilot%20statement%20LA305-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - FAA email summary (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12724255&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20FAA%20email%20LA305-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - engine examination (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13448915&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20engine%20exam%20discussion%20LA305-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 6.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12725634&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA305-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.