# NTSB NYC07LA232: Francis SE5A Replica, N7072E, Hendersonville, NC, September 17, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 17, 2007, 10:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Hendersonville, NC - Coordinates: 35.30722, -82.433609 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3072&lon=-82.4336&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66691 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC07LA232 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66691/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC07LA232 ## Probable cause A total 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 - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - emergency - terrain condition - swampy ## Analysis During takeoff, about 200 feet above ground level (agl), the engine began to lose partial power, and then experienced a total loss of power. The pilot attempted to return to the airport, but the airplane impacted a wetlands area, and came to rest inverted. The airplane was equipped with an O-200 engine, which was last overhauled about 28 years prior to the accident. In addition, the engine had only accumulated 332 total hours of operation since that overhaul. The airplane's most recent condition inspection was completed 3 days prior to the accident, and it had not flown since that inspection. After the accident, the pilot performed a cursory examination of the engine, and did not find anything obvious that would explain the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On September 17, 2007, about 1045 eastern daylight time, an amateur built SE5A REPLICA airplane, N7072E, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, following a total loss of engine power during takeoff from W.N.C. Air Museum Airport (8NC9), Hendersonville, North Carolina. The certificated commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot reported that the airplane departed on runway 14, a 2,400-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, turf runway. About 200 feet above ground level (agl), the engine began to lose partial power, and then experienced a total loss of power. The pilot attempted to return to the airport, but the airplane impacted a wetlands area, and came to rest inverted. During the impact, the wings and fuselage sustained extensive damage. The pilot further stated that the airplane was equipped with a Teledyne Continental Motors O-200 engine. He added that the engine was "old," and last overhauled in 1979. The engine had accumulated 332 total hours since that last overhaul. The airplane's most recent condition inspection was completed 3 days prior to the accident, and it had not flown since that inspection. Approximately 6 months after the accident, the pilot reported that he had not yet began a teardown of the engine, and did not know what caused the power loss. The pilot added that he performed a cursory examination of the engine, and did not find anything obvious that would explain the loss of engine power. The reported weather at an airport located approximately 10 miles northwest of the accident site, at 1054, was: wind variable at 4 knots; sky clear; temperature 16 degrees Celsius (C); dew point 9 degrees C; altimeter 30.38 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7072E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7072E-2013-11-12), registration cancelled 2013-11-12, S/N 076222, built 1979 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Francis SE5A REPLICA - Registry model: [Francis Donald SE5A REPLICA](https://openairdocs.org/model/francis-donald-se5a-replica) (registry code 05623FZ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 076222 - Airframe hours: 332 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Steven G Lyons - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 1, 2007, 0 hours before - Departed: 8NC9, Hendersonville, NC - Airport: 8NC9, W.N.C. Air Museum Airport, runway 14, 2,400 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2006; seat: single; flight hours: 809 total, 265 in this make and model, 726 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.37 inHg - Observed at: AVL, 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 20070917829889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070917829889A), Sep 17, 2007: Amtr SE5AREPLICA, Hendersonville, NC, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot took off from johnson field (8NC9) which is next to Hendersonville airport (0A7). He stated his magneto and carb checks were normal. When he began… 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.