# NTSB SEA05LA008: Higgins Acro-Sport II, N214JH, Coeur d'Alene, ID, October 2, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 2, 2004, 11:40 local (18:40 UTC)
- Place: Coeur d'Alene, ID
- Coordinates: 47.591388, -116.900276
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.5914&lon=-116.9003&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 28, 2005
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 60371
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05LA008
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60371/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA008

## Probable cause

The airplane's wood propeller separated from the airplane during cruise.  A factor was the ditch that the airplane impacted during the landing roll subsequent to the forced landing.

## Analysis

The pilot said that while in cruise flight, the wood propeller separated from the airplane.  He performed a forced landing, and impacted a small ditch during the roll out.  Subsequently, the landing gear separated from the airplane, and the main gear attachment points and the engine firewall were damaged/bent.

## Factual narrative

On October 2, 2004, at 1140 Pacific daylight time, a Higgins Acro-Sport II experimental homebuilt, N214JH, was substantially damaged during a forced landing attempt near Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.  The commercial pilot and his passenger were not injured.  The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight that had originated from Homeport Airport (11WA) near Cheney, Washington, approximately 36 minutes before the accident.  The pilot had not filed a flight plan.

The pilot said that while in cruise flight, the wood propeller separated from the airplane.  He performed a forced landing, and impacted a small ditch during the roll out.  Subsequently, the landing gear separated from the airplane, and the main gear attachment points and the engine firewall were damaged/bent.  The pilot said that there was approximately 31 hours of flight time on the wood propeller and airplane.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise
  - propeller system/accessories - separation (cause)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll
  - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N214JH](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N214JH-2021-09-04), registration cancelled 2021-09-04, S/N 001, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Higgins Acro-Sport II
- Registry model: [Higgins James Leo ACRO-SPORT II](https://openairdocs.org/model/higgins-james-leo-acro-sport-ii) (registry code 05607UG) (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: 001
- Airframe hours: 30
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A3B6D 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: James L. Higgins
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, August 4, 2001, 30 hours before
- Departed: NONE, Cheney, WA

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 66; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 28, 2002; seat: rear; flight hours: 500 total, 30 in this make and model, 319 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 0° at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 43 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: COE, 12 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 20041002024109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041002024109A), Oct 2, 2004: Amtr ACROSPORTII, Coeurd'Alene, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) During a sightseeing flight over lake coeur d'alene the propeller attach bolts sheared. The wooden propeller departed the aircraft. The pilot set the…

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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