# NTSB MIA06LA028: Mestas Felix R Velocity LWFG-E, N535BM, Punta Gorda, FL, December 10, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 10, 2005, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Punta Gorda, FL - Coordinates: 26.920278, -81.990554 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.9203&lon=-81.9906&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 62944 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA06LA028 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/62944/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA06LA028 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## 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) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ditch ## Analysis The pilot/builder of the accident airplane stated that the takeoff and initial climb were normal until the airplane reached about 200-300 feet, when the engine began "losing compression." He further stated that the airspeed began to bleed off, so he lowered the nose to maintain 80 knots and turned the airplane back toward the runway. He said that he was unable to reach the runway, so he decided to land in the grass on the airport property. According to the pilot the landing flare and touchdown were normal, but during the rollout the airplane struck a taxiway sign, became airborne, impacted the ground again on the main landing gear, and then came to a sudden stop in a ditch. It then caught fire and was mostly consumed in the flames. According to the pilot/builder, the airplane had a General Motors automobile conversion V-6 engine, and the accident flight was the first flight after the airplane had been built. Prior to the flight only ground taxi operations had been performed. During takeoff on the first and accident flight, the pilot said he noticed the engine temperature gauge needle showing that the engine was operating at a very high temperature. The pilot/builder said that postcrash examination of the engine could not be accomplished because it had been constructed largely of aluminum and the intense heat of the postcrash fire mostly consumed the engine and melted the aluminum. ## Factual narrative On December 10, 2005, about 1000 eastern standard time, a experimental Velocity LWFG-E, N535BM, registered to and operated by a private individual, experienced an in-flight loss of engine power during takeoff from Charlotte County Airport, Punta Gorda, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was destroyed and the private-rated pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that the takeoff and initial climb were normal until the airplane reached about 200-300 feet, when the engine began "loosing compression." He further stated that the airspeed began to bleed off, so he lowered the nose to maintain 80 knots and turned the airplane back toward the runway. He said the was unable to reach runway, so he decided to land in the grass on the airport property. According to the pilot the landing flare and touchdown were normal, but during the rollout the airplane struck a taxiway sign, became airborne, impacted the ground again on the main landing gear, and then came to a sudden stop in a ditch. The airplane then caught fire and was mostly consumed in the flames. The pilot/builder of the accident airplane stated that he built the airplane with an General Motors automobile conversion V-6 engine, and the accident flight was the first flight after the airplane had been built. He stated that prior to the flight only ground taxi operations had been performed with the airplane as a test. He said that during takeoff, he noticed the engine temperature gauge needle displayed the that the engine was operating hotter than usual. According the pilot/builder, postcrash examination of the engine could not be accomplished because the engine had been constructed largely of aluminum and the intense heat of the postcrash fire mostly consumed the engine and the aluminum had melted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N535BM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N535BM-2010-01-12), registration cancelled 2010-01-12, S/N DMO 387, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MESTAS FELIX R Velocity LWFG-E - Registry model: [Mestas Felix R LWFG-E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mestas-felix-r-lwfg-e) (registry code 05616OS) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: DMO387 - Airframe hours: 7 - Engines: General Motors 4.3L 220 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Departed: PGD, Punta Gorda, FL - Destination: PGD, Punta Gorda, FL - Airport: PGD, Charlotte County Airport, runway 03, 6,500 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review December 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 130 total, 8 in this make and model, 15 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 5 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: PGD ## 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 20051210029789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051210029789A), Dec 10, 2005: LWFGE, Punta Gorda, FL, Destroyed. (-23) On December 10, 2005 at 10:00 local time, a velocity lwfg-e, N535BM, registered to the pilot [privacy data omitted], experienced an in-flight loss of… 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.