# NTSB NYC99LA141: Prendergast Seawind, N8190J, Martinsburg, WV, June 14, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 14, 1999, 13:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Martinsburg, WV - Coordinates: 39.460174, -77.969383 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4602&lon=-77.9694&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 November 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 46542 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA141 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/46542/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA141 ## Probable cause The air-intake's inner liner separating from its outer liner, which blocked airflow to the fuel servo, resulting in a loss of engine power. A factor in the accident was the owner/builder's inadequate inspection of the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - induction air ducting - separation (cause) - maintenance,inspection - inadequate, owner/builder (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - rising ## Analysis The airplane's engine started on the first attempt, and ran 'smoothly.' The pilot then taxied the airplane short of the runway, and completed the run-up checks. No anomalies were noted. He then taxied onto the runway, advanced the throttle, and scanned the engine instruments. No deficiencies were observed, so the pilot executed the takeoff. After retracting the flaps, and reaching about 500 feet agl, the pilot executed a left turn to stay within glided distance of the airport. Approximately 30 degrees through the turn, the airplane experienced a loss in power. The propeller continued to windmill, but the engine did not responded to throttle movements. With insufficient altitude to reach the runway the pilot executed a forced landing to a field. Examination of the engine revealed that the inner liner of the air-intake had separated from the outer liner, blocking airflow to the fuel servo. ## Factual narrative On June 14, 1999, about 1330 eastern daylight time, a Seawind homebuilt airplane, N8190J, was substantially damage after experiencing a loss of power during climbout from Eastern West Virginia Regional Shepherd Airport, Martinsburg, West Virginia. The certificated commercial pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot stated that he arrived at the airport about 1100. He then reinstalled the airplane's engine cowling, and propeller before conducting a preflight. After boarding and completing the pre-start checks, the pilot started the airplane's engine on the first attempt. It ran "smoothly", and he noticed no anomalies. He then taxied the airplane short of runway 26, and completed the run-up checks. During the run-up checks, he stabilized the engine rpm at 4,500, and scanned the instrument panel for deficiency, but found none. While holding short of runway 26, the pilot visually checked for traffic, announced his intentions on UNICOM, taxied on to the runway, and advanced the throttle. The pilot scanned both the flight instruments and engine instrument during the ground roll, and noticed no discrepancies. He estimated that the airplane became airborne approximately 2,000 feet down the runway. Once airborne, he retracted the flaps, and raised the landing gear. About 500 feet agl, the pilot executed a left turn to stay within glided distance of the airport. Approximately 30 degrees through the turn, the airplane experienced a loss in power. The propeller continued to windmill, but the engine did not responded to throttle movements. The pilot realized he was not going to make the runway, so he positioned the airplane to land in a grassy field. He felt the airplane would slide better with the landing gear retracted, so he left it up. The pilot reported that the airplane touched down smoothly. Then, the left wing made contact with rising terrain. The airplane rolled right, and the right wing separated on ground contact. The airplane continued to slide on its right side until coming to a stop. The pilot estimated the ground slide was approximately 500 feet. After coming to a stop, the pilot secured the ignition and shut off the electrical master before exiting. He estimated that the airplane had approximately 20 gallons of fuel onboard when the engine lost power. The pilot added that he had acquired the electronic ignition equipped engine from a "junk yard." Adding, that this was the airplane's third flight since completion. During the previous two flights, the airplane had accumulated about 1 hour of flight time. In addition, on the previous flight, the engine overheated, and lost all of its coolant. Because of the overheating problem, the pilot checked the engine baffling, and cooling system. He also enlarged an opening in the engine cowling to increase airflow. According to the pilot, he had logged approximately 2,100 hours of total flight experience. About 1,050 hours in single engine land, and about 1,050 hours in multi engine land. The pilot stated that he examined the airplane's engine after the accident and found the inner liner of the air-intake had separated from the outer liner, blocking airflow to the fuel servo. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8190J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8190J-2007-12-14), registration cancelled 2007-12-14, S/N 024, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Prendergast SEAWIND - Registry model: [Prendergast John SEAWIND](https://openairdocs.org/model/prendergast-john-seawind) (registry code 05606S9) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Subaru ALL MDLS A/B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/subaru-all-mdls-a-b) (registry code 59050, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 024 - Airframe hours: 10 - Engines: Subaru SVX 3.3L 230 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John Prendergast - Last inspection: Annual, April 7, 1999, 10 hours before - Departed: MRB, WV - Airport: MRB, Eastern W Virginia Reg, runway 26, 7,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,100 total, 10 in this make and model, 1,300 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 12 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MRB ## 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 19990614047489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990614047489A), Jun 14, 1999: Amtr SEAWIND, Martinsburg, WV, Substantial damage. (.4) The airplane's engine started on the first attempt, and ran 'smoothly.' The pilot then taxied the airplane short of the runway, and completed the run-up… 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.