- Date
- July 17, 2015, 19:32 local (23:32 UTC)
- Place
- Fenton, MI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N1204AAventura II
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 11, 2015
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- Case key
- 91456
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the student pilot to ensure that the experimental seaplane was airworthy prior to take off.
Findings · 6
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
In an email sent to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Aviation Safety Inspector (ASI), by the student pilot, he reported that the experimental seaplane experienced a partial loss of engine power during takeoff about 400 feet above the ground. The student pilot stated that he turned the experimental seaplane toward the lake but as he ran out of "speed," he "pitched it to the right into some trees." A postaccident examination of the engine by the FAA ASI revealed that the fuel supply line to the forward carburetor was cracked and leaking. The cracked portion of the line was about ½ inch outboard of the carburetor fuel intake fitting. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage when it impacted trees.
Factual narrative
In an email sent to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Aviation Safety Inspector (ASI), by the student pilot, he reported that the experimental seaplane experienced a partial loss of engine power during takeoff about 400 feet above the ground. The student pilot stated that he turned the experimental seaplane toward the lake but as he ran out of "speed," he "pitched it to the right into some trees." A postaccident examination of the engine by the FAA ASI revealed that the fuel supply line to the forward carburetor was cracked and leaking. The cracked portion of the line was about ½ inch outboard of the carburetor fuel intake fitting. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage when it impacted trees. The student pilot did not return the NTSB Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report as requested. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The FAA ASI stated that the experimental seaplane does not have an airworthiness certificate, operating limitations, registration certificate, or any logbooks or record of maintenance performed. He also stated that there wasn't evidence of a current annual condition inspection. The student pilot was not endorsed to act as Pilot in Command (PIC) for single-engine sea airplane or any other aircraft at the time of the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1204A
- Reported as
- Aventura II
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- AP2A0008
- Engine
- reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- None
- Registered owner
- None
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- Fenton, MI
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 43
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Student
- Medical
- Class 3, Unknown
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 32 total · 8 in this make and model · 10 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 86 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.79 inHg
- Observed at
- KFNT, 7 nm away
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 4, 2015, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.7 MB in all.