# NTSB SEA94LA021: Hannah Avid Amphibian, N6664K, Scappoose, OR, October 27, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 27, 1993, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Scappoose, OR - Coordinates: 45.799171, -122.97097 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.7992&lon=-122.9710&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 13, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41845 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA021 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41845/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA021 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S POOR INFLIGHT DECISION, AND FAILURE TO MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT AIRSPEED. FACTORS INCLUDE CONTAMINATED FUEL. ## Analysis DURING THE FIRST FLIGHT OF THE AMATEUR-BUILT AIRCRAFT, THE ENGINE LOST POWER WHILE THE PILOT WAS AT ABOUT 500 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL ON DOWNWIND. HE ATTEMPTED TO GLIDE BACK TO THE AIRPORT INSTEAD OF LANDING IN AVAILABLE OPEN AREAS NEARER TO THE DOWNWIND. IN ATTEMPTING TO GET BACK TO THE RUNWAY, THE PILOT TRIED TO STRETCH HIS GLIDE TOO FAR, AND ALLOWED HIS AIRSPEED TO GET LOW. THIS RESULTED IN THE AIRCRAFT STALLING JUST BEFORE TOUCHDOWN AND LANDING HARD NEXT TO THE RUNWAY. A POST-ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED CONTAMINATION IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. ## Factual narrative On October 27, 1993, approximately 1100 Pacific daylight time (PDT), an Avid Amphibian, N6664K, landed hard during a forced landing at Scappoose Industrial Airpark, Scappoose, Oregon. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft received serious injuries, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The local pleasure flight, which had just made its initial takeoff to remain in the pattern, was operating in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The pilot did not file a flight plan, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to the pilot, this was the first flight of the amateur- built aircraft. He had spent the previous three days "breaking in" and testing the engine, and he had also completed some "taxi runs." Witnesses who observed the engine test runs reported that the pilot had experienced problems getting the engine to start, and that once started, it ran quite rough. The pilot said that after takeoff, the exhaust gas temperature (EGT) indicated too hot, so he stopped climbing at about 500 feet above ground level (AGL). Then, since the EGT began to drop, he remained at 500 feet AGL. When the aircraft was at about mid- field on downwind, the engine suddenly lost all power. Even though there were open areas near the downwind, the pilot attempted to make it back to the field for landing. Witnesses said that it appeared that the pilot tried to stretch his glide too far, and that the airspeed became very low, after which the aircraft appeared to stall and land hard between the taxiway and the runway. A post-accident inspection of the engine found fuel system contamination and numerous other maintenance discrepancies (see attached FAA Inspector's Statement). ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - fluid,fuel - contamination (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (cause) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6664K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6664K-2013-05-09), registration cancelled 2013-05-09, S/N 107A (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HANNAH AVID AMPHIBIAN (AVID AMPHI) - Registry model: [Owens James Elmer AVID AMPHIBIAN](https://openairdocs.org/model/owens-james-elmer-avid-amphibian) (registry code 95708BJ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 107A - Engines: ROTAX 582LC 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Owens, James E. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Airport: 1S4, Scapoose Airport, runway 33, 4,000 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; private, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 90 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 64 °F ## 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 19931027041009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931027041009A), Oct 27, 1993: Amtr AVIDFLYER, Scappoose, OR, Substantial damage. Engine problems. Finally quit on first flight of homebuilt. Stalled stretching glide. Dirt in fuel. Other defects. 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.