14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, July 21, 2012 in Goodrich, MI
Probable Cause Approval Date: 01/22/2013
Aircraft: EIPPER Quicksilver MXL II, registration: None
Injuries: 1 Serious, 1 Minor.
NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The non-certificated pilot had just departed from and was returning to land on a lake in an unregistered experimental airplane when the engine stopped producing power. He was unable to glide back to the water and the airplane collided with a tree and a house near the shoreline. When the airplane was examined, water and debris were found in the fuel system. The pilot stated that he conducted a preflight inspection before the accident flight and that he was “afraid [he] missed something.” A review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records revealed the airplane had not been issued an FAA airworthiness certificate.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The operation of an unregistered and unairworthy airplane by a non-certificated pilot. Contributing to the accident was the non-certificated pilot’s improper preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to water/debris contamination in the fuel.
On July 21, 2012, at 1500 central daylight time, an unregistered and float-equipped, amateur built-experimental Eipper Quicksilver MXL Sport II airplane, sustained substantial damage after a total loss of engine power while maneuvering to land on Lake Shinanguag near Goodrich, Michigan. The non-certificated pilot sustained minor injuries and his passenger was seriously hurt. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
The non-certificated pilot said that shortly after he departed the lake, he elected to return to land due to turbulence. While on the downwind leg, the engine stopped producing power. He was unable to land back on the water and collided with a tree adjacent to the shoreline. When the airplane was examined, water was found in the carburetor bowls and fuel lines. What appeared to be fuel tank material was also found in the fuel filter and main fuel tank. A review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records revealed the airplane had not been issued an FAA airworthiness certificate.
NTSB Identification: CEN12LA483
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, July 21, 2012 in Atlas Township, MI
Aircraft: EIPPER Quicksilver MXL II, registration: None
Injuries: 1 Serious,1 Minor.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.
On July 21, 2012, at 1500 central daylight time, an unregistered and float-equipped, amateur built-experimental Eipper Quicksilver MXL Sport II airplane, sustained substantial damage after a total loss of engine power while maneuvering around Lake Shinanguag near Atlas Township, Michigan. The unlicensed pilot sustained minor injuries and his passenger was seriously hurt. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
The pilot reported that he was taking his grand daughter on a local flight and departed from the lake. Shortly after departure, the pilot realized it was turbulent so he made a left turn downwind to land. While on the downwind leg, the engine stopped producing power and he was unable to reach the water. The pilot slowed the airplane and landed in a tree adjacent to the water's edge.
According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the pilot was issued a student pilot certificate on October 25, 2004, and it had expired on October 31, 2006. He did not have an FAA medical certificate. The pilot reported that he had never received any flight training in the QuickSilver MXL Sport II but, had accumulated total time of approximately 110 hours. Approximately 80 of those hours was in the accident airplane. The airplane had not been issued an FAA airworthiness certificate.
July 25, 2012 - On Saturday afternoon Bob and Charmaine Kerchner were sitting in their family room in their home on the east shore of Lake Shinanguag.
"It was a hot day," said Bob, 77, who was a private pilot. "There was an ultra light float plane buzzing around the lake in the afternoon—traveling north to south in front of the house. I watched him make a turn out over the lake and he came right toward the house."
Charmaine noticed the small plane out over the lake.
"The pilot made a sharp turn," she said. "Then I thought, 'He's going to end up in our big trees in front of the house.' Then I realized he's (the pilot) not going to make it. It just happened so fast. I was in shock."
The ultralight plane came into the Kerchner's trees and dropped down into a large plate glass window only a few feet from where Bob was seated. The impact of the plane shattered a plate glass window and sent glass toward Bob and Charmaine.
"He should have landed the plane in the water," said Bob. "He ended up in our trees and family room."
Bob received several cuts and abrasions to his face. Several neighbors arrived following the crash and provided first aid treatment.
Atlas Township Fire Chief Fred Forys said they arrived at about 3:45 p.m. Saturday following the crash..
"The plane was up against the house when I arrived," he said.
"We did help take a little girl, a passenger in the ultralight, out of the plane. Her grandfather was flying when it crashed. He was OK, although shaken."
Groveland Township EMS transported the 11-year-old girl to Genesys Regional Medical Center. Her condition is unknown.
"The ultralight was picked up in several pieces and put on a flatbed truck and hauled out," he said.
"I think part of the wing of it is still up in the tree."
The pilot, who flew the ultralight from Lake Shinanguag, could not be reached for comment.
Story and photo: http://www.clarkstonnews.com
FAA IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: UNK Make/Model: EXP Description: EXP-
Date: 07/21/2012 Time: 1940
Event Type: Incident Highest Injury: Minor Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Unknown
LOCATION
City: FLINT State: MI Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO A HOUSE UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES. FLINT, MI
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 1 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 1 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: DETROIT, MI (GL23) Entry date: 07/23/2012
No comments:
Post a Comment