# NTSB ERA22LA268: Wingren Norman Escapade, N86RD, Brasstown, NC, May 9, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 9, 2022, 10:15 local (14:15 UTC) - Place: Brasstown, NC - Coordinates: 35.04707, -83.953172 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.0471&lon=-83.9532&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) - 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): 105262 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA268 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105262/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105262 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA268 ## Probable cause The failure of the engine gearbox drive flange, which resulted in a nose gear collapse during the subsequent precautionary landing in tall grass. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Accessory gear-boxes](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058300): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure; cases with it: [Wingren Norman ESCAPADE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058300/cases.md?model=05617TA), [All aircraft, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058300/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng liquid cooling](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058570): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Damaged/degraded; cases with it: [Wingren Norman ESCAPADE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058570/cases.md?model=05617TA), [All aircraft, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058570/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng oil sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Capability exceeded; cases with it: [Wingren Norman ESCAPADE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md?model=05617TA), [All aircraft, 130 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Wingren Norman ESCAPADE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=05617TA), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Wingren Norman ESCAPADE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05617TA), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff while on a local flight, the pilot, who was also the owner of the airplane, heard and felt an unusual vibration emanating from the engine. The pilot elected to return to the private airfield as the experimental automobile engine was still running. He declared an emergency as the engine was losing coolant, and the coolant and oil temperature steadily rose to very high levels. Fearing a complete engine failure, he elected to fly straight in and land on an un-mowed portion of the airport. As the airplane touched down the nose gear collapsed, causing the airplane to impact the terrain and come to a sudden stop that resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot, who was also an aircraft mechanic, examined the engine and discovered that the engine gearbox drive flange, also known as a “spider,” had failed. The three-eared flange had fractured outside of the splined driveshaft hole. The resulting failure threw parts into the radiator, puncturing it. The punctured radiator lost coolant, causing a subsequent engine over-temperature that likely would have led to a complete loss of engine power. Fearing an imminent loss of engine power, the pilot made a precautionary landing on an unimproved part of the airport. ## Factual narrative On May 9, 2022, about 1015 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Escapade airplane, N86RD, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at a private airport in Brasstown, North Carolina. The commercial pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, who was also the owner of the airplane, shortly after departure from the private airport, the engine developed vibrations and an “unusual sound.” He attempted to return to the airport, which was about 8 nautical miles away. Although the engine was developing power, the engine was losing coolant and the coolant and oil temperatures were rising to excessive levels. In lieu of flying an airport traffic pattern, which would take additional time, he elected to land as soon as possible on an un-mowed portion of the airport. The nose gear collapsed during the landing, which resulted in damage to the fuselage and windscreen. The wreckage was subsequently recovered and examined by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector. The inspector noted substantial damage to the airframe. The accident, which was reported about a month after it occurred, and the subsequent follow-up examination by the FAA, took additional time before the damage was confirmed; during which time the pilot, who was also an airframe and powerplant mechanic conducted his own examination. The pilot stated that during his examination of the experimental Viking 110 engine (Honda Derivative), it was revealed that the drive flange, also known as the engine to gearbox coupling or “spider,” located on the rear of the gearbox, had failed (Figure 1). The resulting failure threw fragments into the radiator, damaging it and resulting in coolant loss. The pilot removed the flange, which was missing one of the three drive ears. One of the ears was fractured just outside of the main splined driveshaft hole. Figure 1 Fractured flange prior to removal. The flange was installed on the engine about 134 flight hours before the accident and was accomplished by the previous owner of the airplane. A review of the engine manufacturer’s operational manuals and service bulletins revealed that this unit was in compliance with the service bulletin specific to the welding of the pins and installation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N86RD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N86RD), registered now, S/N 31, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WINGREN NORMAN ESCAPADE (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Wingren Norman ESCAPADE](https://openairdocs.org/model/wingren-norman-escapade) (registry code 05617TA) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 31 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 209 - Engines: Viking 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 20, 2022, 23 hours before - Airport: PVT, Private, runway 18/36, 2,200 × 75 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Onboard weather, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 11, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 840 total, 180 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: RHP, 10 nm away - METAR: METAR KRHP 091455Z AUTO 32003KT 10SM SCT030 16/10 A3018 RMK AO2 T01620095= ## 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 20220509020509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220509020509A), May 9, 2022: Wingren Norman ESCAPADE, Brasstown, NC, Substantial damage. Pilot stated he had departed a private grass airstrip in Brasstown NC in VMC conditions. During cruise flight the pilot then heard an unidentifiable sound from… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 25, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105262. 7.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14910332&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Miller%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 689 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14145578&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilots%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation_pilot/owner (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14912433&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Pilot-Owner_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memo for record_FAA (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 169 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14912732&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record_FAA-Rel.pdf - Memo for record_engine service bulletin (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 305 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14913580&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record_Engine%20Service%20Bulletin-Rel.pdf - Engine manual excerpt_part and location (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 579 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14913061&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20Manual%20Excerpt%20Showing%20Part%20and%20Location-Rel.pdf - Photo array airplane and component damage (item 7, PDF, 8 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14912866&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage%20Photographs-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.