# NTSB MIA05LA111: Hamilton Stoddard Glassair II S, N401KY, Palm City, FL, May 27, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 27, 2005, 11:35 local (15:35 UTC) - Place: Palm City, FL - Coordinates: 27.149166, -80.340835 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.1492&lon=-80.3408&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report March 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61616 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA05LA111 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61616/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA05LA111 ## Probable cause Improper maintenance by other maintenance personnel, which resulted in the throttle cable being loose and detaching from the throttle arm during takeoff, resulting in a loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb - maintenance - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - throttle/power lever,cable - loose part/bolt/nut/clamp/etc - throttle/power lever,cable - disconnected - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the takeoff was normal until just after rotation, when he felt a loss of power during the takeoff/initial climb. At an altitude of about 30 feet AGL, he said he saw that the engine rpm had dropped from 2270 rpm to about 1800 rpm, and he immediately concentrated on maintaining airspeed, which had dropped to about 60 to 65 mph. According to the pilot, all he could do was to maintain a wings-level attitude just above stall speed and fly the airplane into the trees. Postcrash examination of the accident airplane was performed by an FAA licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic, under the supervision of an FAA Inspector. According the mechanic, the throttle cable was found to have pulled free of the hole/nut that secured the throttle cable to the throttle arm on the carburetor. No another anomalies were noted to exist any other airplane systems. ## Factual narrative On May 27, 2005, about 1135 eastern daylight time, a Hamilton Stoddard Glasair II S experimental amateur-built airplane, N401KY, registered to and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, crashed in the vicinity of the Naked Lady Ranch Airport, Palm City, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The airline transport-rated pilot received minor injuries, and the airplane was destroyed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, the takeoff was normal until just after rotation, when he felt a loss of power during the takeoff/initial climb. At an altitude of about 30 feet AGL, he said he saw that the engine rpm had dropped from 2270 rpm to about 1800 rpm, and he immediately concentrated on maintaining airspeed, which had dropped to about 60 to 65 mph. According to the pilot, all he could do was to maintain a wings-level attitude just above stall speed and fly the airplane into the trees. Postcrash examination of the accident airplane was performed by an FAA licensed airframe and powerplant mechanic, under the supervision of an FAA Inspector. According the mechanic, the throttle cable was found to have pulled free of the hole/nut that secured the throttle cable to the throttle arm on the carburetor. No other anomalies were noted to exist in any other airplane systems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N401KY](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N401KY-2008-02-13), registration cancelled 2008-02-13, S/N 2083, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hamilton Stoddard Glassair II S - Registry model: [Stoddard Hamilton GLASSAIR II FT](https://openairdocs.org/model/stoddard-hamilton-glassair-ii-ft) (registry code 05615OD) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 2083 - Airframe hours: 250 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-D1A 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Thomas M. Niebauer - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2004, 15 hours before - Departed: 64FA, Palm City, FL - Destination: 64FA - Airport: 64FA, Naked Lady Ranch, runway 36, 3,300 × 120 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1; last flight review January 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 15,000 total, 120 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,400 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: SUA ## 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 20050527016049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050527016049A), May 27, 2005: Amtr GLASAIRIIFT, Stuart, FL, Destroyed. (-23) On may 27, 2005, at approximately 1130 eastern standard time, at Naked Lady Ranch Airport (64FA), N401KY was involved in an accident during take off .… 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.