# NTSB NYC05LA071: Brennan Flightstar, N125KM, Middleboro, MA, April 16, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 16, 2005, 18:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Middleboro, MA - Coordinates: 41.866664, -71.083335 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.8667&lon=-71.0833&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61318 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC05LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61318/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05LA071 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## 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, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - fence ## Analysis While returning to the airport for landing, the engine "came to a rapid stop." The pilot then performed a forced landing to a field, and during the landing rollout, the airplane impacted a fence. The Rotax engine was test run after the accident, with no abnormalities noted. Additionally, sufficient fuel was observed in the fuel tanks and fuel lines running to the engine. Review of the operator manual for the Rotax engine 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." The manual further stated, "Warning! This is not a certified aircraft engine. It has not received any safety or durability testing, and conforms to no aircraft standards. It is for use in experimental, uncertificated aircraft and vehicles only in which an engine failure will not compromise safety. User assumes all risk of use, and acknowledges by his use that he knows this engine is subject to sudden stoppage." ## Factual narrative On April 16, 2005, at 1815 eastern daylight time, an amateur built Flightstar, N125KM, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Middleboro, Massachusetts. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, about half an hour into the flight, while returning to the airport for landing, the engine "came to a rapid stop." The pilot then performed a forced landing to a field, and during the landing rollout, the airplane impacted a fence. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that the Rotax engine was test run on the airframe, after the accident, and no abnormalities were noted. Additionally, "sufficient" fuel was observed in the fuel tanks and fuel lines running to the engine. Weather reported at Taunton Municipal Airport, approximately 5 nautical miles to the west of the accident site, at 1752, included wind from 040 degrees at 6 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, clear skies, temperature 54 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 18 degrees Fahrenheit, and altimeter setting of 30.44 inches of mercury. According to the pilot, the engine had accumulated approximately 50 total hours of flight time. Review of the operator manual for the Rotax engine 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." The manual further stated, "Warning! This is not a certified aircraft engine. It has not received any safety or durability testing, and conforms to no aircraft standards. It is for use in experimental, uncertificated aircraft and vehicles only in which an engine failure will not compromise safety. User assumes all risk of use, and acknowledges by his use that he knows this engine is subject to sudden stoppage." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N125KM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N125KM), registered now, S/N 797, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Brennan Flightstar - Registry model: [Brennan Michael A FLIGHTSTAR-SPYDER](https://openairdocs.org/model/brennan-michael-a-flightstar-spyder) (registry code 056177Q) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 797 - Airframe hours: 47 - Engines: Rotax 503 UL DCDI 54 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Michael Brennan - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2004, 3 hours before - Departed: NONE, Middleboro, MA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2004; seat: front; flight hours: 154 total, 8 in this make and model, 85 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC) - Wind: 40° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 30.44 inHg - Observed at: TAN, 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 20050416006599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050416006599A), Apr 16, 2005: FLIGHTSTARSP, Middleboro, MA, Substantial damage. (-23) During the pilot's second flight of the day, the pilot [privacy data omitted] stated that he was in the air for 45 minutes and was returning to fisher… 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.