# NTSB ERA23LA373: Liore et Oliver Nieuport 28, Hudson, MA, September 17, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 17, 2023, 11:20 local (15:20 UTC) - Place: Hudson, MA - Coordinates: 42.389893, -71.51776 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3899&lon=-71.5178&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - 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): 193076 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA373 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193076/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193076 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA373 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## 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: [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. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the 1918-vintage former military fighter airplane reported that during a flight in the airport traffic pattern the engine lost power on the downwind leg. The engine briefly regained power, which allowed the pilot to quickly turn onto the base leg and then onto final approach, but the engine lost power again. The airplane landed hard on the runway, fractured the main landing gear, and nosed over. The postaccident engine examination did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on available information. ## Factual narrative On September 17, 2023, about 1120 eastern daylight time, an experimental Liore et Oliver Nieuport 28, Swedish registration SE-BMA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in accident near Hudson, Massachusetts. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he was flying the airplane in the airport traffic pattern when, on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 17, the engine lost power briefly. He was going to set up for an off-field landing when the engine regained power. He turned onto the base leg and then quickly turned onto the final approach when the engine lost power again. The airplane landed hard on the runway and the main landing gear fractured, resulting in a nose-over. The airplane’s wings, engine mounts, and braces were substantially damaged. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector observed the postaccident engine examination conducted by a mechanic who was familiar with the 1918 Gnome 9N rotary engine. The rotary engine’s mixture and throttle settings were set on the ground and no adjustments could be made during flight. The pilot could only turn on/off electrical ignition pulses to the engine cylinders to control power. The examination did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: SE-BMA (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Liore et Oliver Nieuport 28 - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 512 - Year built: 1918 - Engines: Gnome 9N 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Collings Foundation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 13, 2023, 0 hours before - Airport: N/A, Private, runway 17, 2,400 × 200 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; foreign, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 21, 2022; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 13,500 total, 8 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: BED, 11 nm away - METAR: KBED 171551Z 27007KT 10SM CLR 22/12 A2988 RMK AO2 SLP131 T02220117 ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 24, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193076. 5.9 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=16238382&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - FAA examination summary (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16243228&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandom-FAA%20exam-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16238876&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photo%27s_Redacted-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.