# NTSB NYC05LA119: Pratt Ultravia Pelican-PL, N412JP, Middlebury, VT, July 12, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 12, 2005, 08:15 local (12:15 UTC) - Place: Middlebury, VT - Coordinates: 43.984722, -73.096107 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.9847&lon=-73.0961&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO-05 - NTSB case key (mKey): 61936 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC05LA119 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61936/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05LA119 ## Probable cause A partial 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, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) ## Analysis About five months prior to the accident, the pilot installed a new engine in the homebuilt airplane. The engine was a 138-horsepower conversion of a Subaru automobile engine, and had accumulated about 13 hours of operation until the time of the accident. On the day of the accident, no anomalies were noted during the preflight inspection, start-up, or taxi. The engine normally operated about 5,700 rpm, with the propeller turning about 2,500 rpm. During the takeoff roll, the propeller rpm was at 2,000, and the pilot adjusted propeller pitch to increase the rpm to 2,500. Shortly after takeoff, the airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power, and the rpm dropped to approximately 1,500. There was not enough power remaining to return to the airport, so the pilot performed a forced landing, straight ahead, into trees. Examination of the engine, fuel system, ignition system, and propeller system did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. ## Factual narrative On July 12, 2005, about 0815 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Ultravia Pelican-PL amphibian, N412JP, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, following a partial loss of engine power while departing Middlebury State Airport (6B0), Middlebury, Vermont. The certificated commercial 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. The pilot stated that he completed construction of the airplane in 1999. The airplane had accumulated about 150 total hours of operation at the time of the accident. In addition, the pilot installed a new Ram Racing Engines EA81, 138-horsepower engine, in March, 2005. The engine was a conversion of a Subaru automobile engine, and had accumulated about 13 hours of operation at the time of the accident. Prior to the flight, the pilot performed a preflight inspection on the airplane, which included a check of both fuel tanks and the gascolator. The inspection revealed approximately 11 gallons of fuel on board, and no water or contamination was observed in the fuel. The start-up, taxi, and takeoff roll were normal except that the propeller rpm was a "bit low" on takeoff. The engine normally operated about 5,700 rpm, with the propeller turning about 2,500 rpm. The pilot adjusted the propeller pitch to increase rpm from 2,000 to 2,500. Shortly after takeoff from 6B0, the airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power, and the rpm dropped to approximately 1,500. Since there was not enough power remaining to return to the airport, the pilot performed a forced landing, straight ahead, into trees. The pilot further stated that he examined the wreckage, and did not find any mechanical malfunctions with the engine, fuel system, or ignition system. The airplane was equipped with a three-bladed propeller that had a controllable pitch (approximately 11 degrees to 22 degrees) via a spring switch and electric motor. The pilot initially believed that the controllable pitch propeller went uncommanded to full cruise pitch during the initial climb. However, he subsequently tested the propeller, and determined that it worked correctly, and was in the "full fine" pitch position at the time of the accident. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N412JP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N412JP-2014-08-28), registration cancelled 2014-08-28, S/N PL-625, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Pratt Ultravia Pelican-PL - Registry model: [Pratt John A ULTRAVIA PELICAN-PL](https://openairdocs.org/model/pratt-john-a-ultravia-pelican-pl) (registry code 056046Z) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: PL-625 - Airframe hours: 150 - Engines: Ram Racing Engines Ltd EA81 Subaru C 138 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John A. Pratt - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2005, 13 hours before - Departed: 6B0, Middlebury, VT - Destination: 6B0 - Airport: 6B0, Middlebury State Airport, runway 1, 2,500 × 50 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 10,000 total, 150 in this make and model, 9,500 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: MPV, 20 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 20050712014749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050712014749A), Jul 12, 2005: Amtr ULTRAPELICAN, Middlebury, VT, Destroyed. (-23) After departure from Middlebury, VT airport, the pilot of the homebuilt aircraft stated that he experienced a power loss and the aircraft started to lose… 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.