- Date
- October 8, 1994, 10:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place
- Nampa, ID
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N21LJLarsen Avid Heavy Hauler
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 19, 1995
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19941008037729A
- Case key
- 42077
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.
Loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.
Analysis
The pilot stated that the engine lost power during climb out. After failed attempts to re-start the engine, the pilot was forced to land in a rough field. During the landing, the airplane was substantially damaged. An examination of the wreckage revealed that the engine had fuel in it and no pre- impact mechanical malfunctions were found.
Factual narrative
On October 8, 1994, about 1030 hours mountain daylight time, N21LJ, a Larsen Avid Heavy Hauler home built airplane, operated by the owner/pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Nampa, Idaho. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power during climb. The private pilot and his passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The personal flight departed from Nampa and was conducted under 14 CFR 91.
The pilot stated that the engine failed about 250 feet above the ground while on climbout after takeoff from the Nampa Municipal Airport. The pilot attempted to re-start the engine, but to no avail. The pilot stated that he then was forced to land in a rough field located about one mile from the airport. The airplane impacted the rough field and was substantially damaged.
The wreckage was examined at the accident site by an FAA Aviation Safety Inspector from Boise, Idaho. According to the inspector, fuel was found in both wings and both engine carburetor float bowls. No evidence of fuel contamination was found. Oil was found in the oil injectors. The ignition system was functionally tested via the starter and spark plugs with no abnormalities noted. The Rotax engine was rotated by hand; it was free to turn with no internal stoppage noted. No pre-impact mechanical malfunctions were found during the examination of the airframe and engine.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N21LJ
- Reported as
- Larsen Avid Heavy Hauler (AVID HEAVY)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 910
- Airframe hours
- 301
- Engine
- Rotax 582UL, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Larsen, John M.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- AAIP · October 6, 1994 · 1 hours before
- Departed
- S67 · ID
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 59
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 311 total · 198 in this make and model · 213 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 110° at 15 knots
- Visibility
- 45 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BOI, 14 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.