# NTSB WPR20CA150: Air Creation Tanarg, N837TB, Buckeye, AZ, May 16, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 16, 2020, 05:47 local (12:47 UTC) - Place: Buckeye, AZ - Coordinates: 33.420555, -112.686111 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.4206&lon=-112.6861&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Standing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/150) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Standing-engine(s) operating: AC/prop/rotor contact w person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 101291 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20CA150 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101291/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101291 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20CA150 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to adequately maintain a safe distance from the airplane's propeller, which resulted in a serious injury when the propeller struck his hand. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: situational awareness](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Standing-engine(s) operating: AC/prop/rotor contact w person](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/081/sequence.md) ## Analysis The accident pilot had been preforming touch and go landings with several trike pilots when he decided to land and talk to another trike pilot on the ground. After landing and setting the parking brake, he exited his trike with the engine still running, to go talk to the other pilot. When he returned to his trike, it had started to move, and he chased after it. As he neared the trike, he attempted to reach around to the right rear strut with his left hand, to stop it. However, the pilot did not see the rear mounted propeller, and his left-hand fingers were struck by the propeller and he was seriously injured. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The accident pilot had been preforming touch and go landings with several trike pilots when he decided to land and talk to another trike pilot on the ground. After landing and setting the parking brake, he exited his trike with the engine still running, to go talk to the other pilot. When he returned to his trike, it had started to move, and he chased after it. As he neared the trike, he attempted to reach around to the right rear strut with his left hand, to stop it. However, the pilot did not see the rear mounted propeller, and his left-hand fingers were struck by the propeller and he was seriously injured. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N837TB (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: AIR CREATION TANARG - Category: Weight-shift - Serial number: T05010 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 397 - Engines: Rotax 921L 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: No damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, January 25, 2020 - Departed: BXK, Buckeye, AZ - Destination: BXK, Buckeye, AZ - Airport: BXK, Buckeye Muni, runway 35, 5,500 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Airframe parachute, ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: serious; sport pilot; medical: sport pilot; last flight review June 27, 2019; seat: none; restraint: none; flight hours: 183 total, 98 in this make and model, 142 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 6 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.81 inHg - Observed at: KBXK ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 10, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101291. 13.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 13.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40486820&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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. --- 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.