NTSB Identification: WPR12LA318
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, July 21, 2012 in Snohomish, WA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 12/05/2013
Aircraft: REPUBLIC RC-3, registration: N87521
Injuries: 1 Serious.
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 pilot reported that during takeoff for the local flight, the engine lost power. A witness reported that shortly after takeoff, the airplane descended and collided with a tree located off the departure end of the runway then impacted terrain. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
Loss of engine power during takeoff for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
On July 21, 2012, about 1030 Pacific daylight time, a Republic RC-3 airplane, N87521, collided with a tree shortly after takeoff from Harvey Field (S43) Snohomish, Washington. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was seriously injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the aft fuselage. The airplane was registered to the pilot, and operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.
Witnesses reported that shortly after takeoff they observed the airplane’s right wing hit a tree located off the departure end of runway 15L. One witness stated that the airplane was not ascending before it struck the tree. The airplane subsequently collided with terrain and came to rest in a creek about 3,000 feet beyond the departure end of the runway.
In a written statement, the pilot reported that he “left Harvey Field lost power.” No other explanation or details surrounding the event or loss of engine power was provided by the pilot. Follow-up conversations with the pilot revealed no additional details surrounding the accident sequence.
Following the accident, personnel employed by the airport moved the wreckage from the accident location to a parking tie-down at the airport.
Examination of the airplane by representatives from NTSB and FAA revealed structural damage to the aft lower fuselage and both wings.
The engine was intact, in place and no impact related damage was noted. The engine case, cylinders and associated overhead components were intact and no anomalies were observed. Both magnetos were attached to their respective drive pads and the associated ignition wires and spark plugs were in place and unremarkable. The top spark plugs were removed; light rust type corrosion was noted to the bodies of all 6 spark plugs. The surface area between the center and ground electrodes was clear and normal wear patterns were observed. Drive train continuity was established by manually rotating the crankshaft. The oil sump was in place and no holes, breaches or leaks were observed.
Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of a pre impact mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation.
NTSB Identification: WPR12LA318
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, July 21, 2012 in Snohomish, WA
Aircraft: REPUBLIC RC-3, registration: N87521
Injuries: 1 Serious.
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, about 1030 Pacific daylight time, a Republic RC-3 airplane, N87521, collided with a tree shortly after takeoff from Harvey Field (S43) Snohomish, Washington. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was seriously injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the aft fuselage. The airplane was registered to the pilot, and operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight.
A pilot rated witness stated that he observed the airplane takeoff from runway 15. Shortly after takeoff the airplane collided with a tree and descended into the ground. The airplane came to rest in a creek about 3,000 feet beyond the departure end of the runway.
According to the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, a 78-year-old pilot was hospitalized after his small plane crashed into a slough south of Harvey Field in Snohomish County Saturday morning.
Witnesses said the plane, a 1946 Republic RC3 single-engine light aircraft, lost power as it came in for a landing, clipped some trees and crashed about 10:15 a.m.
Deputies arrived at the 9700 block of 111th St. S.E., to find the pilot conscious but suffering from a possible head injury. No other passengers were on board at the time of the incident and no one on the ground was injured.
Deputies said the plane was not fully submerged in the water. The Environmental Protection Agency has been notified to address possible contamination issues from any fuel spill and the National Transportation Safety Board has been notified and will investigate the crash.
The plane has been removed from the slough and is sitting at Harvey Field awaiting inspection.
http://www.snohomishtimes.com
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 87521 Make/Model: RC3 Description: RC-3 Seabee
Date: 07/21/2012 Time: 1733
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Minor Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Substantial
LOCATION
City: SNOHOMISH State: WA Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT LOST POWER ON TAKEOFF, CLIPPED TREES AND CRASHED. SNOHOMISH, WA
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 0
# Crew: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 1 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Take-off Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: SEATTLE, WA (NM01) Entry date: 07/23/2012
SNOHOMISH, Wash. - The 78-year-old pilot of a single-engine aircraft suffered head injuries Saturday when his plane came down in a watery slough just south of Harvey Field at Snohomish, officials said.
A Snohomish County Sheriff's Office spokesman said the small plane came down Saturday at around 10 a.m. near the 9700 block of 111th Street SE.
Witnesses reported that the plane had apparently lost power and went down south of Harvey Field.
The plane clipped some trees before landing and came to rest in the water, but it was not completely submerged. Some local residents reportedly ran to the crash scene when they saw the aircraft come down and helped rescue the pilot.
The pilot, a 78-year-old Snohomish area resident, was taken to a local hospital by an aid crew with possible head injuries. He was conscious and alert but his full condition is unknown at this time.
The Environment Protection Agency has been notified to address possible contamination issues in the slough. The National Transportation Safety Board also has been notified and will be responding to conduct an investigation into the cause of the crash.
The downed plane is a 1946 Republic RC3, a single-engine light aircraft. No other passengers were on board at the time of the incident and no one on the ground was injured.
Story and video: http://www.komonews.com
SNOHOMISH COUNTY, Wash. — A 78-year-old pilot sustained minor injuries after his single-engine plane went down near a Snohomish County airfield, according to the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident happened at about 10 a.m. when deputies responded to reports of a light aircraft crash in the block 111th Street Southeast near Harvey Field.
According to Lt. Rob Palmer of the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office, witnesses reported that a plane apparently lost power and had gone down. The aircraft clipped trees before landing and came down in a slough.
The plane landed in water but was not fully submerged.
KIRO 7 Eyewitness News spoke with neighbors who helped rescue the pilot after the crash.
The pilot was taken to a nearby hospital with possible head injuries. He was conscious and alert, but his full condition is unknown at this time.
No other passengers were on board and no one on the ground was injured.
The Environmental Protection Agency has been notified due to possible contamination issues, and the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are currently investigating the incident.
Palmer said the plane is a 1946 Republic RC3.
Story, photos: http://www.kirotv.com
