# NTSB LAX92LA167: Bede BD-5, N3DW, Compton, CA, April 4, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 4, 1992, 13:08 local (21:08 UTC)
- Place: Compton, CA
- Coordinates: 33.869201, -118.209098 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.8692&lon=-118.2091&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal
- Status: Completed, report August 26, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 27593
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX92LA167
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/27593/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX92LA167

## Probable cause

1) A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS, 2) THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN AN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED, AND 3) THE INADVERTENT ENTRY INTO A STALL SPIN.  FACTORS IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE:  1) THE PILOT'S LACK OF FAMILIARITY WITH THE AIRPLANE, AND 2) THE PILOT'S LACK OF RECENT AERONAUTICAL EXPERIENCE.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - emergency procedure - not followed, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of recent total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - airspeed(vso) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - ground

## Analysis

THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE HAD A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER DURING TAKEOFF CLIMB. WITNESSES REPORTED 'SEEING THE AIRCRAFT FALL STRAIGHT DOWN TO THE GROUND.'  FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTORS EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE AND COULD FIND NO PRE-EXISTING DEFICIENCIES WHICH WOULD ACCOUNT FOR THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.  EXAMINATION OF THE PILOT'S LOGBOOK ENTRIES SHOWED NO ENTRIES FOR A BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW.  ACCORDING TO THE PILOT'S LOGBOOK, HE LAST LOGGED A FLIGHT ON MARCH 26, 1990.  FRIENDS OF THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD PERIODICALLY FLOWN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE SINCE HE PURCHASED IT IN MARCH 1992.  A WITNESS ALSO REPORTED THAT THE PILOT HAD NOT ATTEMPTED POWER OFF STALLS IN THE ACCIDENT AIRPLANE.  A DILIGENT SEARCH WAS CONDUCTED BY THE FAA TO DETERMINE IF THE PILOT HAD A CURRENT MEDICAL CERTIFICATE.  THE DILIGENT SEARCH CONCLUDED THAT A CURRENT MEDICAL CERTIFICATE WAS NOT ON FILE WITH THE FAA.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N3DW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3DW-1992-08-20), registration cancelled 1992-08-20, S/N 1267 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Bede Aircraft BD-5
- Registry model: [White BD-5](https://openairdocs.org/model/white-bd-5) (registry code 1130701) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1267
- Engines: HONDA CIVIC EB2 95 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Robert & Christopher Anderson
- Registered owner: Robert & Christopher Anderson
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 20, 1990

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 49; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, expired; seat: front; flight hours: 2,500 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg

## 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 19920404008729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920404008729A), Apr 4, 1992: Amtrbd BEDEBD5, Compton, CA, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Engine heard to sputter. Dived to the ground. No engine problems found.

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.

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