# NTSB WPR09LA052: Adkins Ridge Runner II, N825PB, Mulino, OR, November 29, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 29, 2008, 12:36 local (20:36 UTC) - Place: Mulino, OR - Coordinates: 45.216388, -122.590278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.2164&lon=-122.5903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report May 12, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 69515 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA052 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69515/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA052 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain an adequate airspeed that resulted in a stall/mush during the initial climb. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's lack of experience in this make and model airplane and the improper adjustment of the propeller pitch. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Adkins David Earl RIDGE RUNNER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056170F), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Adkins David Earl RIDGE RUNNER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=056170F), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md) - [Propeller system: propeller assembly](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046110): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Adkins David Earl RIDGE RUNNER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046110/cases.md?model=056170F), [All aircraft, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046110/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Adkins David Earl RIDGE RUNNER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=056170F), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Maintenance: modification/alteration](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Adkins David Earl RIDGE RUNNER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062030/cases.md?model=056170F), [All aircraft, 69 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Adkins David Earl RIDGE RUNNER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=056170F), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Adkins David Earl RIDGE RUNNER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056170F), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Adkins David Earl RIDGE RUNNER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056170F), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot had recently purchased the amateur-built experimental airplane and received operating limitations from the Federal Aviation Administration for flight testing of the airplane. On the day of the accident, the pilot first performed taxi tests and then began taking off, climbing to about 10 feet above the ground, reducing power and landing back on the runway. The pilot completed a few of these runs and then taxied back onto the runway for another run. He advanced the throttle and noted that the tachometer only went to 4,000 rpm. The airplane lifted off the runway and climbed to about 150 feet above the ground. The pilot said it would not "climb higher or speed up." The airspeed was reading about 45 to 50 knots. The pilot started looking for a place to land and seeing obstacles ahead and to the left, he executed a shallow right turn back towards the airfield. The airplane stalled without notice and the pilot was not able to recover prior to ground impact. The airplane came to rest in a nose down position in a flat grassy field. The engine was displaced rearward, and the forward portion of the fuselage was crushed and compressed aft. The pilot reported that he had accumulated 240.7 hours total flight time of which 0 hours were in the accident make and model airplane. Following the accident, the propeller was found to be in "high pitch preventing the engine from turning up to more than 4,000 rpm, limiting the horsepower." ## Factual narrative On November 29, 2008, about 1236 Pacific standard time, an Adkins Ridge Runner II amateur-built experimental airplane, N825PB, impacted terrain following a loss of control during initial climb after takeoff from runway 32 at Portland-Mulino Airport, Mulino, Oregon. The private pilot, the sole occupant, received serious injuries. The airplane, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight was originating when the accident occurred. A witness, who was the pilot's uncle and held an Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) mechanic's certificate, reported that the pilot had recently purchased the airplane in Idaho and moved it to Oregon by ground transport. The pilot applied for, and received, operating limitations from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for flight testing of the airplane. On the day of the accident, the pilot first performed taxi tests and then began taking off, climbing to about 10 feet above the ground, reducing power and landing back on the runway. The pilot completed a few of these runs and then taxied back onto the runway for another run, but did not reduce power after getting airborne. The witness reported that the airplane climbed to about 75 to 100 feet above the ground and flew pass the end of the runway. It was flying "very slow." Then the pilot banked the airplane "for a right hand turn to return to the runway." When the bank angle reached about 30 degrees, the wing "suddenly dropped" and "as the wing dropped, the nose of the aircraft dropped also." Within 1 to 2 seconds the airplane hit the ground. The pilot reported that he taxied onto the runway "for taxi test and possible take off." He advanced the throttle and noted that the tachometer "only went to 4,000 rpm." The airplane lifted off the runway and climbed to about 150 feet above the ground. It would not "climb higher or speed up." The airspeed was reading about 45 to 50 knots. The pilot "started looking for a place to land" and seeing obstacles ahead and to the left, he executed a "shallow right turn back towards the airfield." The airplane stalled "without notice" and there was not "any time or space to recover." Review of photos of the airplane at the accident site taken by local authorities revealed that the airplane came to rest in a nose down position in a flat grassy field. The engine was displaced rearward, and the forward portion of the fuselage was crushed and compressed aft. Both wings displayed skin wrinkles. The pilot reported that he had accumulated 240.7 hours total flight time of which 0 hours were in the accident make and model airplane. Following the accident, the mechanic examined the wreckage and found that the propeller was in "high pitch preventing the engine from turning up to more than 4,000 rpm, limiting the horsepower." The mechanic also reported thatthe accuracy of the airspeed indicator had not been checked, and "it may have been in error." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N825PB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N825PB-2013-09-13), registration cancelled 2013-09-13, S/N 722811, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Adkins Ridge Runner II - Registry model: [Adkins David Earl RIDGE RUNNER II](https://openairdocs.org/model/adkins-david-earl-ridge-runner-ii) (registry code 056170F) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 722811 - Airframe hours: 8 - Engines: Rotax 503DCDI 52 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 31, 2008 - Departed: 4S9, Mulino, OR - Destination: 4S9, Mulino, OR - Airport: 4S9, Portland-Mulino, runway 32, 3,425 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 18, 2006; seat: single; flight hours: 241 total, 180 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.43 inHg - Observed at: UAO, 8 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 20081129852939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20081129852939A), Nov 29, 2008: Adkins RIDGERUNNRII, Portland-Mulin, OR, Substantial damage. Planned activity was to be a series of high speed taxi tests. The pilot had complained, over the radio, that he could not get enough RPM at full throttle. The… ## Other investigations on N825PB (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 SEA05CA119](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05CA119), Jun 19, 2005: Adkins Ridge Runner II (N825PB), Pocatello, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff roll, which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop/swerve. 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.