# NTSB NYC02LA139: Micket Avid Aerobat, N11BV, Chesapeake, VA, July 13, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 13, 2002, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Chesapeake, VA - Coordinates: 36.776943, -76.466941 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7769&lon=-76.4669&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 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 55211 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC02LA139 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55211/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55211 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC02LA139 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to a seized cylinder, and the pilot's improper decision to conduct the flight with a known deficiency to the engine. ## 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 - engine assembly,cylinder - seized (cause) - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis During the initial climb after takeoff, the amateur built airplane experienced a total loss of engine power, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane struck a tree. The airplane was equipped with an uncertificated , 2-cylinder Rotax engine. The pilot additionally stated that the engine had been previously installed in another airplane, where it also experienced a seizure, and that prior to the accident flight, the engine had undergone a "condition inspection." A post-accident engine examination revealed "scuffing" on the number one cylinder. The engine manufacturer operating manual stated in part, 'This engine, by its design, is subject to sudden stoppage! ...Never fly the aircraft equipped with this engine at locations, airspeeds, altitudes, or other circumstances from which a successful no-power landing cannot be made, after sudden engine stoppage.' ## Factual narrative On July 13, 2002, about 1830 eastern daylight time, an amateur built Avid Aerobat, N11BV, was substantially damaged during a forced landing after it experienced a total loss of engine power during initial climb from the Hampton Roads Executive Airport (PVG), Chesapeake, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, prior to the accident flight, the engine had undergone a "condition inspection." After a pre-flight inspection, the pilot taxied the airplane to runway 10 at PVG, and conducted a run-up of the engine. The pilot did not note any abnormalities with the engine's operation. Shortly after departure, as the airplane was climbing, the engine lost all power, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the airplane struck a tree and sustained substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot additionally stated that the engine had been previously installed in another airplane, where it experienced a seizure. The engine had accumulated about 60 hours of total operation time. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the engine after the accident. He was able to rotate the crankshaft by hand. When the inspector removed the exhaust system, he observed "scuffing" on the number one cylinder. The airplane was powered by a 2-cycle, 2-cylinder Rotax 582 engine. An excerpt from the engine manufacturer's operating manual revealed: "Danger! This engine, by its design, is subject to sudden stoppage! Engine stoppage can result in crash landings. Such crash landings can lead to serious bodily injury or death. Never fly the aircraft equipped with this engine at locations, airspeeds, altitudes, or other circumstances from which a successful no-power landing cannot be made, after sudden engine stoppage. Warning! Although these engine types have undergone considerable durability testing, this engine is not a certified aircraft engine. It has not received any individual safety or durability testing and conforms to no aircraft standards. It is for use in experimental and ultralight uncertified aircraft and vehicles only, in which an engine failure will not compromise safety. User assumes all risk of use and acknowledges by his use the he knows this engine is subject to sudden stoppage." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N11BV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N11BV-2003-05-01), registration cancelled 2003-05-01, S/N 780, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Micket Avid Aerobat - Registry model: [Micket Robert A AVID AEROBAT](https://openairdocs.org/model/micket-robert-a-avid-aerobat) (registry code 0561896) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 780 - Airframe hours: 60 - Engines: Rotax 582 64 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bryan J. Clifford - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 12, 2002, 0 hours before - Departed: PVG, Chesapeake, VA - Destination: SFQ, Suffolk, VA - Airport: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review February 24, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 555 total, 510 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 8 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: ORF, 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020713017639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020713017639A), Jul 13, 2002: Amtr AVIDAEROBAT, Portmouth, VA, No damage. (-23) On a flight from pvg to sfq, avid acrobat N11BV was 1.5 miles west of pvg at 1500' when the engine started losing power. While attempting to turn back to… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 15, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=55211. 317 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 297 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461723&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Correspondence (item 2, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40181346&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Correspondence-Master.PDF 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.