# NTSB NYC08LA024: Blondin 601HDS, N27S, Farmington, DE, November 4, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 4, 2007, 10:11 local (15:11 UTC) - Place: Farmington, DE - Coordinates: 38.843055, -75.60778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8431&lon=-75.6078&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report January 14, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 67007 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08LA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67007/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08LA024 ## Probable cause The reason for this occurrence could not be determined. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - reason for occurrence undetermined - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis Witnesses described the engine sound during the takeoff roll and initial climb as "normal," "strong," and continuous with no interruption. The takeoff roll was "much longer than usual" and the airplane used about two thirds of the 3,588 feet of paved runway before it began a very shallow climb. The airplane drifted right of the runway centerline and flew around the east side of a grove of trees off the departure end. The airplane then banked to its left "in an apparent attempt to return to the airport," turned to the west, disappeared from view behind the trees, and then reappeared above the trees in a steep left bank. According to one witness, "[The airplane] popped up in a very steep left bank (both wings were vertical like a knife edge)." The airplane then disappeared from view, the sounds of impact were heard, and a large smoke plume appeared. No usable information could be gathered from the cockpit, nor could control continuity be established due to extensive fire damage. Examination of aerial photographs revealed that the airport and the grove of trees were surrounded by flat, open, cultivated fields suitable for forced landing. ## Factual narrative On November 4, 2007, at 1011 eastern standard time, an amateur-built Blondin 601HDS, N27S, was destroyed when it collided with terrain after takeoff from runway 34 at Chorman Airport (D74), Farmington, Delaware. The certificated private pilot/owner and the passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. In written statements, several witnesses described the accident flight, and their statements were consistent throughout. They stated that the engine sound during the takeoff roll and initial climb was "normal," "strong," and continuous with no interruption. The takeoff roll was "much longer than usual" and the airplane used about two thirds of the 3,588 feet of paved runway. The witnesses described a very shallow climb after the airplane lifted from runway 34. The airplane drifted right of the runway centerline, and flew around the east side of a grove of trees off the departure end. The airplane then banked to its left "in an apparent attempt to return to the airport," turned to the west, then disappeared from view behind the trees. The airplane then reappeared above the trees in a steep left bank. According to one witness, "[The airplane] popped up in a very steep left bank (both wings were vertical like a knife edge)." The airplane then disappeared from view, the sounds of impact were heard, and a large smoke plume appeared. The airplane was examined at the scene by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspectors, and all major components were accounted for at the scene. The airplane was consumed by a postcrash fire. Therefore, control continuity could not be established; and neither could any information be gathered from the cockpit. Examination of the propeller revealed one propeller blade separated from the hub, and the other delaminated during impact. According to FAA records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single engine land. He was issued a third-class medical certificate in March 2007, and he reported 250 hours of flight experience at that time. The airplane was manufactured by the pilot/owner, was issued an airworthiness certificate in February 2007, and had accrued approximately 100 total aircraft hours since that date. The estimate was based on reports from witnesses who were familiar with the airplane and the pilot/owner. A member of the pilot's family reported to the FAA that he would conduct a search of the pilot's home for airplane and pilot records, but no records were ever produced. Examination of satellite images revealed that the airport and the grove of trees were surrounded by flat, open, cultivated fields. At 0954, the weather reported at Georgetown Airport (GED), Georgetown, Delaware, about 10 miles southeast, included clear skies with 10 miles visibility. The winds were from 310 degrees at 9 knots. The temperature was 13 degrees Celsius, and the dew point was 4 degrees Celsius. According to FAA Advisory Circular AC-20-27D, Certification and Operation of Amateur-Built Aircraft,"…FAA inspections of amateur-built aircraft have been limited to ensuring the use of acceptable workmanship methods, techniques, practices, and issuing operating limitations necessary to protect persons and property not involved in this activity." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N27S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N27S-2008-04-28), registration cancelled 2008-04-28, S/N 63638 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Blondin 601HDS - Registry model: [Blondin Raymond 601HDS](https://openairdocs.org/model/blondin-raymond-601hds) (registry code 05621VU) (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: 63638 - Airframe hours: 100 - Engines: Chevrolet reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Raymond Blondin - Registered owner: Raymond Blondin - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 28, 2007, 100 hours before - Departed: D74, Farmington, DE - Destination: W41, Crisfield, MD - Airport: D74, Chorman Airport, runway 34, 3,588 × 37 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 250 total, 100 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: GED, 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 20071104829629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071104829629A), Nov 4, 2007: Amtr CH601XL, Farmington, DE, Destroyed, 2 fatal. (-23) Witnesses stated that during runup and during takeoff the engine (corvair) sounded normal. Takeoff roll was unusually long (2800 +/- ft) from runway 34.… 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.