# NTSB WPR14CA255: Cosmos Phase II Phase II 582, N234BS, Caldwell, ID, June 20, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 19, 2014, 20:49 local (Jun 20, 2014, 02:49 UTC)
- Place: Caldwell, ID
- Coordinates: 43.640834, -116.635559 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6408&lon=-116.6356&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Post-impact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/700) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Post-impact: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report September 30, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 89493
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA255
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89493/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89493
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA255

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to monitor the environment and to maintain sufficient altitude to clear power lines during low altitude flight.

## Findings

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

- [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cosmos Phase II PHASE II 582, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=059022V), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Cosmos Phase II PHASE II 582, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=059022V), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md)
- [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Cosmos Phase II PHASE II 582, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=059022V), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cosmos Phase II PHASE II 582, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=059022V), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)
- [Post-impact: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200) (defining event); cases with it: [Cosmos Phase II PHASE II 582, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=059022V), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he was flying his weight-shift control trike at low altitude when it struck power lines. Subsequently, the trike descended to the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the structural tubing. The pilot further stated that his smoke colored visor attached to his helmet prevented him from clearly seeing the power lines. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he was flying his weight-shift control trike at low altitude when it struck power lines. Subsequently, the trike descended to the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the structural tubing. The pilot further stated that his smoke colored visor attached to his helmet prevented him from clearly seeing the power lines. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N234BS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N234BS-2018-01-02), registration cancelled 2018-01-02, S/N A58BRS (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: COSMOS PHASE II PHASE II 582 (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Cosmos Phase II PHASE II 582](https://openairdocs.org/model/cosmos-phase-ii-phase-ii-582) (registry code 059022V) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: A58BRS
- Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: Caldwell, ID
- Destination: Caldwell, ID

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: front; flight hours: 200 total, 40 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 39 °F
- Altimeter: 29.94 inHg
- Observed at: KEUL

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Incident 20140619010789I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140619010789I), Jun 19, 2014: Cosmos Phase II PHASE II 582, Caldwell, ID, Substantial damage. On 6/19/2014, at 2049 MDT, N234BS struck power lines while flying at low altitude over a sparsely populated area. Aircraft experienced substantial damage.…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 23, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89493. 3.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416746&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416747&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF
- Photo 1 - Main Wreckage From Rear (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 448 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416748&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Main%20Wreckage%20From%20Rear%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF
- Photo 2 - Main Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416749&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Main%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF

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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