MIA06LA136

NTSB accident investigation · Noakes B J Corby CJ-1 · Edgewater, FL · September 4, 2006

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 4, 2006, 12:45 local (16:45 UTC)
Place
Edgewater, FL
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N79860Noakes B J Corby CJ-1
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 30, 2008
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA Orlando FSDO-15
FAA report
20060904020629A
Case key
64472

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

Partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine powerCruise
Reason for occurrence undeterminedCause
Precautionary landing - initiatedPilot in command
Forced landingDescent - emergency
On ground/water encounter with terrain/waterEmergency landing
Terrain condition - muddy
Terrain condition - none suitable
Nose overLanding - flare/touchdown

Analysis

The pilot stated that while on a pleasure flight the engine began running rough, and it appeared as if one of the cylinders had failed and the other soon followed. He elected to make a precautionary landing on an uninhabited island in the Indian River rather than try to make a suitable airport. During landing the aircraft flipped over before coming to a stop. The responding FAA inspector stated that there was about 3 gallons of auto gas in the fuel tank. The engine did not have major damage and could be rotated. A possibility of fuel contamination or a magneto malfunction may have caused the rough running engine. The FAA determined the airplane did not have a current and valid airworthiness certificate with operating limitations. The pilot did not have current valid pilot certificate or medical certificate at the time of the accident.

Factual narrative

On September 4, 2006, about 1245 eastern daylight time, an experimental, Noakes B J, Corby CJ-1, N79860, registered to and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight, flipped over during a precautionary landing near Edgewater, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported no injuries and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated from Blue Ridge Flightpark Airport, Oak Hill, Florida, earlier that day about 1215.

The pilot stated that while on a pleasure flight the engine began running rough, believing that one of the cylinders failed and the other soon to follow. He elected to make a precautionary landing on an uninhabited island in the Indian River rather than try to make a suitable airport. During landing the aircraft flipped over before coming to a stop.

The responding FAA inspector stated that there was about 3 gallons of auto gas in the fuel tank. The engine did not have major damage and could be rotated. A possibility of fuel contamination or a magneto malfunction may have caused the rough running engine.

A review of the pilot's and airplane's records by FAA indicated that the airplane was inspected by a FAA representative on September 26, 1997 and was issued a Special Airworthiness Certificate for amateur built. The pilot purchased the airplane in 2005 and did not have a current and valid airworthiness certificate with operating limitations. The pilot did not have current valid pilot certificate or medical at the time of the accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N79860
Reported as
Noakes B J Corby CJ-1
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
BJ001
Engine
Revmaster 2100D, 80 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Salvator P. Dorazio
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · January 1, 2006
Departed
34FD · Oak Hill, FL

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
49
Injuries
None
Seat
Single

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
80° at 8 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
82 °F, dew point 72 °F
Altimeter
30.04 inHg
Observed at
KEVB, 10 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.