# NTSB GAA16CA216: Airborne Redback, N528PG, Arlington, WA, May 4, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 3, 2016, 19:00 local (May 4, 2016, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Arlington, WA - Coordinates: 48.160831, -122.159164 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1608&lon=-122.1592&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 12, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Lead agency: Other - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 93104 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA216 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93104/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93104 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA216 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to adequately secure the aircraft while manually starting the engine from outside the cockpit, which resulted in the unmanned aircraft becoming airborne and colliding with a hangar roof. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Airborne REDBACK, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05901OI), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Engine starting](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Airborne REDBACK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058000/cases.md?model=05901OI), [All aircraft, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058000/cases.md) - [Action: incorrect action sequence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Airborne REDBACK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020/cases.md?model=05901OI), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: airport structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Airborne REDBACK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042/cases.md?model=05901OI), [All aircraft, 50 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing-engine(s) start-up: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Airborne REDBACK, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05901OI), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Airborne REDBACK, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05901OI), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot of the weight shift controlled trike, he had spent several hours trying to start the trike on the previous day without success. He recalled that on the morning of the accident, with the ignition off, he sprayed ether into each of the carburetors and pulled several times on the engine's starter cord. He reported that he then turned on the ignition, pulled the starter cord once, the engine started and the trike accelerated forward. He recalled that the trike rolled over the chalks that were in front of the wheels, drug him for about 100 feet before he released the cord, and the trike became airborne. The trike was airborne for several seconds before impacting the rooftop of a hangar and sustaining substantial damage to the wing keel and the control bar. The pilot reported that there were not any pre-accident mechanical failures or anomalies with the trike that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident. The pilot reported that in hind sight, he should have placed the hand throttle to idle before pulling the cord. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot of the weight shift controlled trike, he had spent several hours trying to start the trike on the previous day without success. He recalled that on the morning of the accident, with the ignition off, he sprayed ether into each of the carburetors and pulled several times on the engine's starter cord. He reported that he then turned on the ignition, pulled the starter cord once, the engine started and the trike accelerated forward. He recalled that the trike rolled over the chalks that were in front of the wheels, drug him for about 100 feet before he released the cord, and the trike became airborne. The trike was airborne for several seconds before impacting the rooftop of a hangar and sustaining substantial damage to the wing keel and the control bar. The pilot reported that there were not any pre-accident mechanical failures or anomalies with the trike that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident. The pilot reported that in hind sight, he should have placed the hand throttle to idle before pulling the cord. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N528PG](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N528PG), registered now, S/N 503-719, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AIRBORNE REDBACK (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Airborne REDBACK](https://openairdocs.org/model/airborne-redback) (registry code 05901OI) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503 DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-dcdi) (registry code 55566, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: 503-719 - Year built: 2002 - Airframe hours: 3166 - Engines: Rotax 503 DCDI 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Departed: AWO, Arlington, WA - Destination: AWO, Arlington, WA - Airport: AWO, Arlington Muni - Equipment: Airframe parachute ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: minor; private, sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 3, 2015; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 325 total, 175 in this make and model, 66 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KAWO ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 1, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93104. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444083&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 391 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40444084&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%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.