# NTSB MIA07LA130: Powrachute Pegasus 912M, N44118, Suffolk, VA, July 28, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 28, 2007, 07:13 local (11:13 UTC) - Place: Suffolk, VA - Coordinates: 36.692501, -76.603332 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6925&lon=-76.6033&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA / FSDO, Rotax Aircraft Engines - NTSB case key (mKey): 66353 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA07LA130 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66353/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA07LA130 ## Probable cause The improper installation of the engine oil filter. A factor contributing to the accident was unsuitable terrain for a forced landing. ## 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, climb - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - lubricating system,oil filter/screen - overtorque - fluid,oil - loss,total - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - Hard landing, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot of the powered parachute observed a noticeable drop in the engine's rpm during the climb, and elected to return to the departure airport. Seconds later, the engine seized. He located a road for the forced landing. During the approach, people appeared suddenly at the intended landing area, and they did not give way. The pilot elected to turn left and fly into a tree. The aircraft impacted the tree, and then descended vertically, landing hard. Postaccident examination of the seized engine revealed all oil had leaked out from an over torqued oil filter, which was changed about 9 flight hours before the accident. The Rotax's maintenance manual instructs mechanics to "screw the oil filter on by hand until it stops at the filter house, then tighten an extra 3/4 turn." ## Factual narrative On July 28, 2007, about 0713 eastern daylight time, a Powrachute Pegasus 912M, powered parachute, N44118, registered to Xtreme Adventures, Inc. and operated by an individual, had a loss of engine power and impacted into a tree after takeoff from Suffolk Executive Airport (SFQ), Suffolk, Virginia. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and a visual flight plan (VFR) flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The pilot received serious injuries and the aircraft incurred minor damage. The flight originated about 0700. The pilot stated that during the climb, at 1,800 feet, he observed a 1,000 rpm drop in engine power. He elected to return to SFQ, and several seconds later the engine seized abruptly. The pilot looked for a field for the force landing. During the descent, at 300 feet, he was aligned on to a road. All of a sudden three people and a dog appeared on the road and were not moving from their position. He elected to turn left and head toward an oak tree. The aircraft impacted the tree, dropped straight down, and landed hard in the upright position. During post recovery examination of the aircraft by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector it was reveal that the engine seized due to lack of engine oil. The oil leak was observed from the engine oil filter, which had been changed about 9 hours before the accident flight during schedule maintenance. The oil filter was examined by a Rotax Aircraft Engines representative with National Transportation Safety Board oversight. The examination revealed that the oil filter attaching thread were consistent with over torque scoring. The Rotax's maintenance manual instructs mechanics to "screw the oil filter on by hand until it stops at the filter house, then tighten an extra 3/4 turn." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N44118](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44118-2013-05-08), registration cancelled 2013-05-08, S/N E007PC, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Powrachute Corp. Pegasus 912M - Registry model: [Powrachute PEGASUS 912 M](https://openairdocs.org/model/powrachute-pegasus-912-m) (registry code 0590027) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Powered parachute - Serial number: E007PC - Airframe hours: 181 - Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert Anthony Nolan - Registered owner: Xtreme Adventures, Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2007, 9 hours before - Departed: SFQ, SUFFOLK, VA - Destination: TGI, TANGIER, VA - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: SFQ, Suffolk Executive Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: serious; sport pilot; medical: sport pilot; last flight review May 1, 2006; seat: front; flight hours: 2,980 total, 327 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: KSFQ, 5 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 20070728015859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070728015859A), Jul 28, 2007: Pwrcht PEGASUS, Suffolk, VA, Minor damage. (-23) 07/28/2007, At approximately 0700, N44118 a two seat powrachute corp Pegasus 912M powered parachute departed sfq destined for tgi, 81 miles north of sfq.… 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.