# NTSB MIA07CA027: Richard F. Sheldon Aventura II, N554FS, Palm Beach Gard, FL, December 15, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 15, 2006, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Palm Beach Gard, FL
- Coordinates: 26.45, -80.683334
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.4500&lon=-80.6833&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report March 26, 2007
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Fort Lauderdale, Florida
- NTSB case key (mKey): 65063
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA07CA027
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65063/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA07CA027

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure maintain the proper airspeed during takeoff, which resulted in a stall.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command

## Analysis

The pilot stated that he was taking off on the Inter-Coastal Waterway, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and during the takeoff run the aircraft hit a swell which catapulted it airborne. The aircraft then stalled, and descended impacting the water, incurring substantial damage. According to the pilot, prior to the accident there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the aircraft or any of its systems.

## Factual narrative

The pilot stated that he was taking off on the Inter-Coastal Waterway, in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and during the takeoff roll the aircraft hit a swell which catapulted it airborne. The aircraft then stalled, and descended impacting the water first with its left wing, incurring substantial damage. According to the pilot, prior to the accident there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the aircraft or any of its systems.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N554FS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N554FS-2008-04-29), registration cancelled 2008-04-29, S/N AP2A0031, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Richard F. Sheldon Aventura II
- Registry model: [Sheldon Richard F AVENTURA II](https://openairdocs.org/model/sheldon-richard-f-aventura-ii) (registry code 05620S3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: AP2A0031
- Airframe hours: 135
- Engines: Rotax 912 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Richard F. Sheldon
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, April 1, 2006, 35 hours before
- Departed: F45, N Palm Bch Cty, FL
- Destination: F45

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: serious; student; medical: class 3; last flight review December 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 204 total, 147 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 240° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observed at: PBI

## 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 20061215027489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061215027489A), Dec 15, 2006: Amtr AVENTURAII, Palmbeachgarden, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On Friday 15 December 2006 at approximately 1300 hours eastern daylight standard time an amphibious adventura ii, registration number N554FS, serial…

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.