# NTSB MIA97LA045: Issoire-Aviation PIK-30, N25RJ, Boynton Beach, FL, December 28, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 28, 1996, 16:35 local (21:35 UTC) - Place: Boynton Beach, FL - Coordinates: 26.510581, -80.149368 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.5106&lon=-80.1494&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 30, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38192 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA045 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38192/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA045 ## Probable cause failure of the engine to restart for undetermined reason(s), after gliding (sailing) for about 3 hours, resulting in a forced landing in a swamp. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, descent - normal - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - swampy (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot took off in a motor-glider and climbed using engine power until joining up with another glider. He made a normal engine shutdown and glided for about 3 hours. While returning to the gliderport, the flight ran out of thermals, and the pilot elected to start the engine. The pilot could not remember if he turned on electric power to the engine or if the engine turned when he engaged the starter switch. He also did not know if he attained enough airspeed in the dive to airstart the engine. The engine did not start, and a forced landing was made in a swamp. After the aircraft was recovered, the engine was started, but would not obtain full power until the fuel filter was changed. The pilot stated he was not sure if this was the problem, since the engine ran fine until the normal shutdown. ## Factual narrative On December 28, 1996, about 1635 eastern standard time, an Issoire Siren Pik-30, N25RJ, registered to a private owner, was damaged during a forced landing near Boynton Beach, Florida, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft received substantial damage and the commercial-rated pilot was not injured. The flight originated from the Willis Glider Strip, the same day, about 1315. The pilot stated that after departure from Willis Gliderport he flew west where he shut down the engine and began to glide. He was gliding with another aircraft. About 3 hours later he turned back to the gliderport. There were no thermals and as the glider descended through 1,000 feet, he tried to start the engine, using the starter, to motor home. The engine would not start using the starter and he attempted to dive the aircraft for an airstart. The engine still would not start and he ran out of altitude and had to make a forced landing in the swamp. On landing the aircraft ground looped and the tail broke off. The pilot of the other aircraft called for rescue. The pilot was rescued 45 minutes later. The pilot stated that 5 days after the accident, after the aircraft was recovered from the swamp, he started the engine. The engine ran but would not develop full power. Two days later he changed the fuel filter, and the engine started and ran to full power with no evidence of failure or malfunction. He stated he is not sure the fuel filter prevented the engine from starting for the engine was running fine when he did the normal shutdown to glide. He stated he is not sure he turned on the electrical power to the engine before trying to start it with the starter and does not remember if it turned over with the starter. He also does not know if he attained enough airspeed in the dive to get the engine to start. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N25RJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N25RJ), registered now, S/N 721, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Issoire-Aviation PIK-30 - Registry model: [Issoire Siren PIK-30](https://openairdocs.org/model/issoire-siren-pik-30) (registry code 8270320) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider - Serial number: 721 - Airframe hours: 938 - Engines: Rotax 505 43 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Beuford N. Willis - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 19, 1996, 3 hours before - Departed: IX4 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 6,000 total, 631 in this make and model, 42 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: PBI, 17 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 19961228045179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961228045179A), Dec 28, 1996: Amtr PIK30, Boynton Beach, FL, Substantial damage. Motorized glider. Shut off engine. Thermaled. Time return no start. Landed in a swamp. Mishandled startup items. 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.