# NTSB SEA03LA132: Hanks Avid Flyer, N3086G, Toledo, WA, July 10, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 10, 2003, 09:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Toledo, WA - Coordinates: 46.466667, -122.811386 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.4667&lon=-122.8114&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57504 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA03LA132 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57504/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA132 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during a simulated emergency descent. Inadequate remedial action was a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, descent - emergency procedure - simulated, pilot in command - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - remedial action - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis The pilot reported that upon returning to the airfield, he announced that he was going to accomplish a simulated loss of power descent from 3,000 feet. The pilot was spiraling to the left while keeping his touchdown point in view. The airspeed was approximately 75-80 mph with a descent rate of 800-900 feet per minute. The pilot reported that when he came around on his last turn, he attempted to arrest the turn to land down the runway, however, the airplane did not respond as anticipated to his inputs. The pilot neutralized the ailerons and used full right rudder. Before he was able to arrest the turn, the aircraft collided with the terrain in a nose low attitude. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On July 10, 2003, approximately 0930 Pacific daylight time an experimental Hanks Avid Flyer, N3086G, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with the terrain at the Toledo-Winlock Memorial Field, Toledo, Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the private pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured. In a written statement, the pilot reported that upon returning to the airfield he announced that he was going to accomplish a simulated loss of power descent from 3,000 feet. The pilot stated that he was spiraling to the left while keeping his touchdown point in view. The airspeed was approximately 75-80 mph with a descent rate of 800-900 feet per minute. The pilot reported that when he came around on his last turn, he attempted to arrest the turn to land down the runway, however, the airplane did not respond as anticipated to his inputs. The pilot neutralized the ailerons and used full right rudder. Before he was able to arrest the turn, the aircraft collided with the terrain. A Deputy from the Lewis County Sheriff's Office, who responded to the accident site, reported that the aircraft was located on the east end of the airport. The Deputy reported that the aircraft had significant damage on the front end of the aircraft and was "nosed into the ground." The Deputy reported that the pilot, when asked if he recalled what happened stated, "it appeared he spun in." After the aircraft was recovered from the accident site, a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Seattle, Washington, Flight Standards District Office, inspected the aircraft. The inspector reported that flight control continuity was established to each flight control surface. The pilot also reported to the inspector and reported in the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report Form 6120.1/2, that there was no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3086G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3086G-2005-02-04), registration cancelled 2005-02-04, S/N 1008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Hanks Avid Flyer - Registry model: [Hanks Jeffrey Gordon AVID FLYER](https://openairdocs.org/model/hanks-jeffrey-gordon-avid-flyer) (registry code 05618T4) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1008 - Airframe hours: 367 - Engines: Rotax 582LC 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Denny J. Femrite - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 6, 2003, 2 hours before - Departed: TDO, Toledo, WA - Airport: TDO, Toledo-Winlock Memorial Fld, runway 23, 4,960 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review September 24, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 280 total, 104 in this make and model, 223 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 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: 72 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: TDO ## 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 20030710017829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030710017829A), Jul 10, 2003: Amtr AVIDFLYER, Toledo, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot stated he was practicing simulated engine out/emergency maneuvers over the airfield. At approximately 100' AGL, the pilot stated that the aircraft… ## Other investigations on N3086G (1) 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. - [NTSB SEA96LA152](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA152), Jul 11, 1996: Hanks Avid Flyer (N3086G), Spanish Fork, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: partial loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). A factor relating to the accident was: the tall grain crop that was encountered during the forced landing. 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.