# NTSB WPR09CA186: Air Creation Clipper 58, N5138J, Anacortes, WA, April 9, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 8, 2009, 19:00 local (Apr 9, 2009, 02:00 UTC)
- Place: Anacortes, WA
- Coordinates: 48.498889, -122.662498 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4989&lon=-122.6625&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 22, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73621
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA186
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73621/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA186

## Probable cause

The partial loss of engine power due to the passenger's inadvertent movement of the engine throttle control.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Engine controls: power lever](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Creation CLIPPER 582S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603/cases.md?model=05901HK), [All aircraft, 95 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057603/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Passenger (probable cause); cases with it: [Air Creation CLIPPER 582S, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=05901HK), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Air Creation CLIPPER 582S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05901HK), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Air Creation CLIPPER 582S, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05901HK), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that the experimental weight-shift-control light sport aircraft (trike) experienced a partial loss of engine power during initial climb. The pilot noticed that the engine's throttle went to an idle setting upon climbing to a maximum height of 50 feet above the runway. The pilot made a forced landing on grass-covered terrain adjacent to the runway and the airplane collided with the airport's perimeter chain link fence. One of the trike's fabric wings was ripped over a foot-long span, and the cockpit enclosure was cracked. The pilot reported that no maintenance had been performed on the airplane since he purchased it about 2 months prior to the accident. According to the pilot, although the propeller continued rotating when the engine power loss occurred, insufficient power was produced to sustain flight. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector who examined the trike and interviewed the pilot reported that the trike's throttle is accessible to occupants located in both the front and rear seats. In his statement, the pilot opined that during takeoff the throttle was inadvertently retarded by the passenger in the front seat.

## Factual narrative

The experimental weight-shift-control light sport aircraft (trike) experienced a partial loss of engine power during initial climb. The pilot reported that he noticed the engine's throttle went to an idle setting upon climbing to a maximum height of 50 feet above the runway. Thereafter the trike descended, and the pilot made a forced landing on grass-covered terrain adjacent to the runway. As the trike decelerated, it collided with the airport's perimeter chain link fence. The private pilot was not injured, and the passenger sustained a minor injury. One of the trike's fabric wings was ripped over a foot-long span, and the cockpit enclosure was cracked. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that no maintenance had been performed on the trike since he purchased it about 2 months prior to the accident. According to the pilot, although the propeller continued rotating when the engine power loss occurred, insufficient power was produced to sustain flight. The Federal Aviation Administration coordinator who examined the trike and interviewed the pilot reported that the trike's throttle is accessible to occupants located in both the front and rear seats. The pilot opined that during takeoff, he did not notice that the throttle was inadvertently retarded by the passenger in the front seat.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5138J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5138J), registered now, S/N T99045, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AIR CREATION CLIPPER 58
- Registry model: [Air Creation CLIPPER 582S](https://openairdocs.org/model/air-creation-clipper-582s) (registry code 05901HK) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Weight-shift
- Serial number: T99045
- Airframe hours: 232
- Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, September 10, 2007
- Departed: 74S, Anacortes, WA
- Destination: 74S, Anacortes, WA
- Airport: 74S, Anacortes, runway 36, 3,015 × 60 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 17, 2007; seat: rear; flight hours: 134 total, 10 in this make and model, 120 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.84 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 20090408004099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090408004099A), Apr 8, 2009: Aircre CLIPPER582S, Anacortes, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) On April 8, 2009, about 1900 pacific daylight time an air creation clipper 582S (trike), N5138J, experienced a partial loss of engine power during…

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.

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