# NTSB ERA23LA283: Airborne Edge-X, N147JL, Coral Gables, FL, July 4, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 4, 2023, 09:15 local (13:15 UTC) - Place: Coral Gables, FL - Coordinates: 25.639523, -80.290742 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.6395&lon=-80.2907&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 192512 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA283 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192512/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192512 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA283 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Lindberg James EDGE-X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=05902BT), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Lindberg James EDGE-X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=05902BT), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) ## Analysis After performing a preflight inspection of the weight-shift-control aircraft, the pilot departed on a personal flight. After 30 minutes of flying, the engine began to surge. The pilot attempted to regain full engine power; however, the engine continued surging, and the pilot chose to conduct a forced landing to a golf course. During the landing, the aircraft touched down in a grass area, continued into a rocky area, and came to rest inverted in a pond, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. Postaccident examination of the two-stroke engine found water throughout the engine, likely from being submerged in the pond. No mechanical anomalies were noted with the engine that would have precluded normal operation; however, a white clay and white powder substance was noted throughout the fuel system. It is possible that the substance partially occluded the fuel lines, which resulted in the engine surging; however, it could not be determined when the contamination occurred; therefore, the reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On July 4, 2023, at 0915 eastern daylight time, an Airborne Edge-X, N147JL, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Coral Gables, Florida. The sport pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, after performing a preflight inspection of the weight-shift-control aircraft, he departed Miami Homestead General Aviation Airport (X51), Homestead, Florida, around 0830. After 30 minutes of flying without anomaly, the engine began to “sputter,” then “race up to 6,000 rpm for a few seconds,” and repeat the acceleration/deceleration cycle. The cycle resulted in the aircraft climbing and descending in unison with the uncommanded acceleration and deceleration of the engine. The pilot attempted to regain full engine power; however, the engine continued to “sputter” and accelerate. After about 10 minutes of circling a park hoping the engine would stabilize, he noted no options for a forced landing site and flew south along the coastline toward a golf course. The pilot lined up to land on the golf course and, as the aircraft cleared the final line of trees, the pilot took his foot off the throttle and the engine “immediately stalled.” He landed the aircraft, “but it had too much speed,” and to avoid a marsh area the pilot raised the nose and glided over the marsh. Then, the aircraft touched down in a grass area, continued into a rocky area, and came to rest inverted in a pond. Examination of the aircraft revealed substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The fuel tank was damaged and filled with pond water. Postaccident examination of the two-stroke engine by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that both carburetors were contaminated with water similar to the pond water, as well as a white powdery substance and white clay substance. Disassembly of both carburetors revealed no mechanical anomalies; however the internal jet filters were contaminated with a white powdery substance. Examination and disassembly of the fuel metering distribution system found about 10 drops of fuel and no contamination was noted. The diaphragm seals were not damaged and no anomalies were noted. The fuel lines were not obstructed and the fuel filter located on the fuel line between the fuel metering distribution system and the fuel tank did not contain fuel; however, it contained a white substance. Review of the maintenance records indicated that a condition inspection was performed on March 23, 2023, at a total time of 498.9 hours. No anomalies were noted with the engine at that time. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N147JL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N147JL), registered now, S/N 001, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRBORNE Edge-X - Registry model: [Lindberg James EDGE-X](https://openairdocs.org/model/lindberg-james-edge-x) (registry code 05902BT) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582dcdi) (registry code 55562, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift, amateur-built - Serial number: 001 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 534 - Engines: Rotax 582 DCDI 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 4, 2023, 35 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: None - Equipment: Airframe parachute ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: minor; student, sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; seat: front; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 384 total, 34 in this make and model, 384 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: TMB, 8 nm away - METAR: KTMB 041253Z A3006 RMK AO2 SLP180 $ ## 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 20230704011889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230704011889A), Jul 4, 2023: Lindberg James EDGE-X, Coral Gables, FL, Destroyed. Part 91 operation, experimental 2004 Lindberg James with one pilot and one passenger crashed on the Coral Gables golf course (25° 38’ 22”n 80° 17’26”w) pond.… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 26, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192512. 32.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16439963&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA283%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 958 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16432233&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20LA283_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Engine maintenance log excerpts (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 26.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16431721&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Mx%20Log%20Excerpts_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16435163&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=LA283%20Photo%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.