# NTSB SEA96LA152: Hanks Avid Flyer, N3086G, Spanish Fork, UT, July 11, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 11, 1996, 10:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Spanish Fork, UT - Coordinates: 40.020526, -111.550933 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0205&lon=-111.5509&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 28, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42415 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA152 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42415/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA152 ## 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. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot stated that performance after takeoff was less than he normally anticipated. He was unable to maintain level flight, and the engine rpm decayed. The pilot made a forced landing in an area of tall grain, and the airplane nosed over, sustaining substantial damage. The airplane was below gross weight at the time of the flight; density altitude was about 6700 feet. No evidence was found to explain the partial loss of power. ## Factual narrative On July 11, 1996, approximately 1015 mountain daylight time, N3086G, a Hanks Avid Flyer amateur-built experimental airplane, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing northwest of Spanish Forks, Utah, airport. The private pilot and his passenger were uninjured. The local flight, operated under 14 CFR 91, was conducted in visual meteorological conditions. The ELT functioned, but was turned off by the pilot after the accident. The pilot stated that he had departed the airport with about 8-10 gallons of gasoline aboard. The aircraft had not climbed at his anticipated rate. He said that about three miles from the airport, he made a turn to attempt to return to the field. He said that the engine changed pitch at that time and the rpm dropped off, from about 6000 rpm to 4000 rpm. He said the aircraft could not sustain level flight. He continued a descent to a landing. The airplane nosed over during the landing roll, sustaining substantial damage. After the accident, the pilot performed a compression check on the engine, and found it to be normal. He found no evidence of a mechanical malfunction, nor was any evidence of a malfunction found by FAA inspectors. The empty weight of the airplane was 432 pounds, with a maximum gross weight of 1125 pounds. The pilot weighed about 284 pounds; he estimated the passenger's weight as 160-165 pounds; gross weight at the time of the occurrence was approximately 940 pounds. Density altitude was about 6700 feet. ## 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: 216 - Engines: Rotax 582LC 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ardath K. Chipman - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 13, 1995, 52 hours before - Departed: U77 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 165 total, 100 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## 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 19960711016659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960711016659A), Jul 11, 1996: Amtr AVIDFLYER, Spanish Forks, UT, Substantial damage. Lost partial power. Nosed over on forced landing. Engine ran normal after accident. Near gross and altitude factors ## 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 SEA03LA132](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA03LA132), Jul 10, 2003: Hanks Avid Flyer (N3086G), Toledo, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during a simulated emergency descent. Inadequate remedial action was a factor. 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.