# NTSB GAA15CA143: Aventura II, N1204A, Fenton, MI, July 17, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 17, 2015, 19:32 local (23:32 UTC) - Place: Fenton, MI - Coordinates: 42.856666, -83.719718 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.8567&lon=-83.7197&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 11, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 91456 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA143 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91456/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91456 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA143 ## Probable cause The failure of the student pilot to ensure that the experimental seaplane was airworthy prior to take off. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Planning/preparation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md) - [Knowledge: knowledge of equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 69 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02032015/cases.md) - [Training: initial instruct/training](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031515): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031515/cases.md) - [Maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [All aircraft, 143 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062000/cases.md) - [Fuel system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not serviced/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 181 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022800/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## 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 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: AVENTURA II - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: AP2A0008 - Engines: 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. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; 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 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 4, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91456. 4.7 MB in all. - Pilot statement (courtesy of the FAA) (item 1, .PDF, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431577&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20statement%20(courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1-View of airplane prior to recovery (photo courtesy of the FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 294 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431579&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201-View%20of%20airplane%20prior%20to%20recovery%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2-View of airplane after recovery (photo courtesy of the FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431580&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202-View%20of%20airplane%20after%20recovery%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 3-View of cracked portion of the fuel line (photo courtesy of the FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431581&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203-View%20of%20cracked%20portion%20of%20the%20fuel%20line%20(photo%20courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.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.