# NTSB LAX95LA058: Render LONG-EZ, N3250K, Kailua-Kona, HI, December 21, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 21, 1994, 07:53 local (17:53 UTC) - Place: Kailua-Kona, HI - Location: 19.6452° N, 155.9979° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Kailua, HI, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=19.6452&lon=-155.9979&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report May 16, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 28999 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA058 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/28999/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA058 ## Probable cause a delamination of the wooden propeller. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Propeller failure/malfunction, descent - normal - propeller system/accessories,blade - delamination (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - none suitable - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) - object - building(nonresidential) ## Analysis ACCORDING TO CONTROLLERS ON DUTY IN THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL TOWER AT THE KAILUA AIRPORT, SHORTLY AFTER THE PILOT REPORTED 7 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE AIRPORT FOR LANDING, HE RADIOED THAT HE WAS LOOSING POWER AND WOULD NOT MAKE THE AIRPORT. IN HIS STATEMENT, THE PILOT SAID HE WAS INBOUND TO THE AIRPORT WHEN THE WOODEN PROPELLER DELAMINATED AND A SEVERE VIBRATION SHOOK THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS FORCED TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE AND WAS ATTEMPTING TO LAND ON AN ABANDONED AIRSTRIP BEHIND A BEACH RESORT HOTEL, BUT HAD INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE. THE AIRCRAFT TOUCHED DOWN ON THE BEACH, COLLIDED WITH PALM TREES, AND CAREENED INTO THE HOTEL BAR. THERE WERE NO GROUND INJURIES. ## Factual narrative On December 21, 1994, at 0753 Hawaii standard time, a homebuilt experimental Render Long-EZ airplane, N3250K, collided with trees and a hotel building during a forced landing attempt at Kailua- Kona, Hawaii. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power while the aircraft was descending toward the Kona airport. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was destroyed in the multiple obstacle collision sequence. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. There were no injuries to persons on the ground. The flight originated at the Kahului airport on the island of Maui, Hawaii, on the day of the accident at 0730 as a cross-country flight to Kona. According to controllers on duty in the air traffic control tower at the Kailua airport, shortly after the pilot reported 7 miles northeast of the airport for landing, he radioed that he was loosing power and would not make the airport. In his statement, the pilot said he was inbound to the airport when the wooden propeller delaminated and a severe vibration shook the aircraft. The pilot said he was forced to shut down the engine and was attempting to land on an abandoned airstrip behind the Kona Village Resort Hotel, but had insufficient altitude. The aircraft touched down on the beach, collided with palm trees, and careened into the hotel bar. There were no ground injuries. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3250K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3250K-1997-08-12), registration cancelled 1997-08-12, S/N 819 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RENDER LONG-EZ - Registry model: [Render Ronald C LONG-EZ](https://openairdocs.org/model/render-ronald-c-long-ez) (registry code 05609WR) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 819 - Airframe hours: 490 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235-L2C 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Scott F. Church - Registered owner: Scott F. Church - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 31, 1994, 10 hours before - Departed: OGG, KAHULUI, MAUI, HI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 115 total, 70 in this make and model, 90 as pilot in command, 50 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 60° at 7 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KOA, 7 nm away ## 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 19941221042019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19941221042019A), Dec 21, 1994: Amtr LONG EZ, Kailua-Kona, HI, Destroyed. Lost power on approach to Kona. Tried land on closed strip. Unable. Landed beach. Ran into trees and hotel bar. 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.