# NTSB NYC97LA171: Lorello Genesis, N9091B, Columbia Statn, OH, August 27, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 27, 1997, 19:50 local (23:50 UTC) - Place: Columbia Statn, OH - Coordinates: 41.310173, -81.939613 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3102&lon=-81.9396&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report December 1, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39425 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC97LA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39425/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC97LA171 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot had flown the airplane only once before, with another pilot, several months prior to the accident flight. Prior to the accident, the pilot/builder performed several high speed taxi runs, with brief moments of flight just above the runway. The airplane was then observed to climb at an steep angle, bank sharply to the left and descend. One witness, located two houses north of the private grass strip, reported hearing the airplane's engine running until the sound of impact. An second witness, located across from the field where the airplane had taken off, stated that he heard the engine sputtering, then stop running. Examination of the propeller revealed the last several inches of both blades were separated. Examination of the 2 cycle, 4 cylinder, 25 horsepower engine revealed that one of the four carburetors was unsecured from its mount. The pilot had recently replaced all four carburetors. ## Factual narrative On August 27, 1997, about 1950 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Genesis, N9091B, was destroyed when it impacted after takeoff from a private grass airstrip near Columbia Station, Ohio. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to a witness, the pilot had flown the airplane only once before with another pilot, several months prior to the accident, and had not flown it since. Just before the accident, the pilot had performed several high speed taxi runs, with brief moments of flight just above the runway. The pilot had also shut down the engine three times to make adjustments to the carburetor with a screwdriver. The airplane was then observed to takeoff and climb at an angle steeper than normally used by the pilot. A second witness, who was sitting on his porch located 1/2 mile from the accident site, had noticed the airplane appear above the tree line to the east of his house. He noted that the airplane barely cleared the tree tops when it took off from the airstrip and looked to be moving abnormally slow. The airplane then appeared to enter a very tight left turn, appearing to return to the landing strip, then descend below the tree line. A third witness, who also lived 1/2 mile from the accident site, observed the airplane about 200 feet above the tree line. She noted that the airplane made a sharp turn to the left and nose down, then disappear below the tree line. A fourth witness located two houses north of the private grass strip, did report hearing the airplane's engine running until the sound of impact. A fifth witness, who was in his garage, across from the field where the airplane had taken off, stated that he could hear the engine sputtering, then stop running. The airplane came to rest nose down in a large, level field. The last several inches of both propeller blades were separated. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector revealed that the engine was a two cycle, four cylinder, four carburetor engine. Attempts to run the engine were unsuccessful; however, the engine was rotated through the starter gear, and compression was obtained on all four cylinders. The carburetor for the number two cylinder was observed unsecured from its mount, and was free to move about 1/8 inch. According to his business partner, the pilot had just recently replaced all four carburetors. Fuel was observed in two of the three fuel tanks. Flight control continuity was established for all primary flight controls. There was no evidence of mechanical malfunctions with the airplane aside from the unsecured number two carburetor. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9091B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9091B-2012-08-22), registration cancelled 2012-08-22, S/N 035, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Lorello GENESIS - Registry model: [Lorello Mark M GENESIS](https://openairdocs.org/model/lorello-mark-m-genesis) (registry code 0563054) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Hirth F30](https://openairdocs.org/engine/hirth-f30) (registry code 33730, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 035 - Airframe hours: 55 - Engines: Hirth F30 25 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mark M. Lorello - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: NONE - Airport: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 104 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 3 knots - Visibility: 4 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: 22G, 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 19970827024189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970827024189A), Aug 27, 1997: Amtr GENESIS, Columbia Statio, OH, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Lost power and crashed. Investigation underway. Observed low level engine sputtering. (-23) the aircraft had impacted the soybean field at about a 30 degree… 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.