NTSB Identification: WPR12LA442
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, September 30, 2012 in Safford, AZ
Probable Cause Approval Date: 11/06/2013
Aircraft: AIR CREATION TANARG, registration: N2751N
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
While flying in loose formation with another airplane to the destination airport, the accident airplane descended to about 400 feet above ground level. The pilot subsequently advised the pilot of the other airplane that the wind had become stronger and was affecting his airplane’s controllability. He added that he might attempt to land or consider returning to the departure airport. Shortly thereafter, the airplane made a descending right turn and impacted the ground.
An examination of the wreckage revealed that the airplane was equipped with a nonstandard, smaller wing and was trimmed to the near full nose-down position, which would increase the airplane’s stall speed. According to the wing manufacturer, the nonstandard wing has controllability problems at high speeds. Surface weather observations reported wind gusting to 22 knots near the time of the accident. The combination of the nonstandard wing, which reduced controllability, the full nose-down trim, which increased the stall speed, and the high wind gusts resulted in the pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane.
Postmortem toxicological testing of specimens from the pilot indicated the recent use of marijuana. Although the levels were such that the use may have been impairing, the actual effects on the flight could not be determined.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control while maneuvering in high wind conditions and his failure to adjust the trim appropriately. Contributing to the accident was the airplane’s nonstandard modified wing configuration.
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On September 30, 2012, about 1630 mountain standard time, an experimental Air Creation, Tanarg, weight-shift control, airplane, N2751N, impacted terrain about 38 nautical miles north of Safford, Arizona on the San Carlos Indian Reservation. The sport pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The pilot, the sole occupant sustained fatal injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight. The airplane departed Safford Regional Airport (SAD), Safford, Arizona about 1600 with a destination of Show Low Regional Airport (SOW), Show Low, Arizona.
A family member in a similar airplane model was flying in loose formation with the accident airplane. The family member reported after clearing a ridge that the accident airplane dropped down to about 400 feet above ground level. The family member was positioned above and behind the accident airplane when the accident pilot made a radio transmission that the wind had become stronger and was making the airplane abruptly turn. The pilot added that he may attempt to land or abort the flight to SOW. Shortly thereafter, the accident airplane made a descending right turn and impacted the ground.
The airplane impacted a flat area at an elevation of 5,050 feet mean sea level, that was surrounded by mountainous terrain. The debris field was scattered in a 70 foot vicinity of the main wreckage. All major structural components were located within the wreckage debris area.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
A review of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman records revealed that the 50 year-old-pilot held a sport pilot certificate. An examination of the pilot’s personal logbook indicated he had amassed 78 flight hours since his initial training flight in May 2009. The most recent logbook entry was dated April 2011. The pilot had amassed his total flight hours in the accident airplane and in an Evolution Revo, a similar make and model.
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
The airplane was an experimental, weight-shift-control, Air Creation, Tanarg, serial number T05004. The airplane was equipped with a Rotax, 912UL, motor number 4406447. A review of the airplane’s maintenance logbooks revealed that the last entry was dated September 17, 2012 with an airplane total time of 566 hours. According to a FAA inspector, the standard 15 meter wing was replaced with a non-standard 12.5 meter wing about a month prior to the accident flight. The aircraft logbooks did not have an entry for the replacement of the wing.
METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS
The closest aviation weather observation station was located at SAD, which issued an automated surface weather observation at 1551 (about 40 minutes prior to the accident) reporting the following: the wind was variable at 3 knots; 10 miles or greater visibility; sky conditions clear below 12,000 feet, temperature 33 degrees Celsius; dew point minus 2 degrees Celsius; and an altimeter setting of 29.91 inches of mercury. An observation issued a 1651 (about 20 minutes after the accident indicated the wind was from 340 degrees at 9 knots, gusting to 22 knots; 10 miles or greater visibility; sky clear below 12,000 feet; temperature 34 degrees Celsius; dew point minus 3 degrees Celsius; and an altimeter setting of 29.91 inches of mercury.
Density altitude was calculated and ranged in the area from 6,003 to 6,135 feet during the time of the accident.
MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION
An autopsy was performed on the pilot by the Gila County Medical Examiner in Globe, Arizona. The Forensic Pathologist reported that the cause of death of the pilot was due to blunt force injuries. Toxicological tests on specimens from the pilot were performed by the FAA Civil Aeromedical Medical Institute. Analysis revealed no carbon monoxide, cyanide or ethanol. The toxicology testing identified ranitidine, an over the counter medication that reduces stomach acid and is used to treat heartburn, in the urine. In addition, 0.0027ug/ml of tetrahydrocannabinol (marijuana) and 0.0054ug/ml of tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid (marijuana’s primary metabolite) was detected in the pilot’s blood and 0.065ug/ml tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid was detected in his urine.
TESTS AND RESEARCH
Following recovery, the airplane was examined at Air Transport in Phoenix, Arizona. The propeller assembly was removed and the engine was setup for a test run. A header tank was secured to the upper beam and a fuel line was attached to the airplanes fuel tank outlet line. The engine started with little hesitation and smoke was visible from each muffler assembly. The engine ran smoothly for approximately two minutes. Fuel was leaking at the attachment area of the fuel inlet line and the engine driven fuel pump. When the engine was shut down, fuel continued to leak.
The header tank was detached from the beam and relocated to the pilot’s seat, near the airplane’s fuel tank. The engine was restarted and ran smoothly for about one minute with no hesitations. No fuel leaked from the fuel pump inlet line attachment area. The fuel line was loose at the fuel pump attachment fitting and moved freely by hand. No other anomalies were noted during the engine run.
The wing assembly was disassembled and impact damage was noted throughout its internal structure. The trim actuator was found extended to nearly its full length. According to aircraft documents, the wing would be in the full forward position with the actuator extended to the full length. The full forward position increases maneuverability and speed and decreases pitch stability. The trim actuator motor was operated by use of an aircraft battery and no anomalies were noted.
A detailed report of the airplane examination is contained in the public docket for this accident.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
According to the FAA inspector, this was the only make/model airplane to have the 12.5-meter aftermarket wing installed and electric trim modification. The inspector stated that the wing manufacturer does not recommend the model of wing that was on the airplane at the time of the accident because of controllability issues. The manufacturer added that with the wing in the forward trim position, an additional 15 knots is added to the stall speed equating to a speed of 60 knots. In turbulent air the wing will experience controllability issues and should be flown at slower speeds.
The FAA also stated that when the airplane wing was changed the airplane should have gone back to re-authorization. No documents were found to indicate any additional recertification for the Letter of Authorization.
NTSB Identification: WPR12LA442
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, September 30, 2012 in Safford, AZ
Aircraft: AIR CREATION TANARG, registration: N2751N
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
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. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On September 30, 2012 about 1630 mountain standard time, an Air Creation, Tanarg, N2751N, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain about 37 miles north of Safford, Arizona on the San Carlos Indian Reservation. The airplane was registered to private individuals and operated by the sport pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The sport pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight. The cross-country flight departed Safford Regional Airport (SAD), Safford, Arizona about 1600 with a destination of Show Low Regional Airport (SOW), Show Low, Arizona.
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector interviewed a family member who was flying alongside the accident airplane when the accident occurred. The family member, who is also a sport pilot, was flying a similar airplane model. After clearing a ridge the accident airplane dropped down to about 400 feet above ground level (agl) where he reported to the other pilot that the winds had become stronger. The other pilot who was higher in altitude at this point saw the airplane and heard the accident pilot report that the winds were making the airplane do abrupt turns. He further stated that he might try to land or abort the flight to SOW. Shortly thereafter the other pilot witnessed the accident airplane make a right turn and impact the ground.
Examination of the accident site by the FAA revealed the airplane impacted level ground surrounded by mountainous terrain. Wreckage debris was found within 70 feet of the main wreckage. All major structural components were located within the wreckage debris area.
The wreckage was relocated to a secure location for further examination.
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 2751N Make/Model: EXP Description: AIR CREATION TANARG
Date: 09/30/2012 Time: 2045
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Substantial
LOCATION
City: SAFFORD State: AZ Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT CRASHED INTO MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN, THE 1 PERSON ON BOARD WAS
FATALLY INJURED, NEAR SAFFORD, AZ
INJURY DATA Total Fatal: 1
# Crew: 1 Fat: 1 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Pass: 0 Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
# Grnd: Fat: 0 Ser: 0 Min: 0 Unk:
OTHER DATA
Activity: Unknown Phase: Unknown Operation: OTHER
FAA FSDO: SCOTTSDALE, AZ (WP07) Entry date: 10/01/2012
An Alabama man died Sunday after the ultralight aircraft he was flying crashed on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation, Graham County officials said.
The man and his brother took off from Safford on Sunday afternoon in separate ultralights, which are light weight, slow flying, fixed-wing aircraft. They planned to fly to Show Low, according to Graham County Undersheriff Jeff McCormies.
The ultralight crashed about 2 p.m. in the Point of Pines area near San Carlos, the Sheriff's Office said.
The ages and names of the brothers and the cause of the crash were not available Sunday night.
SAFFORD, AZ (CBS5) - One person is confirmed dead in a plane crash near San Carlos on the White Mountain Indian Reservation, the Graham County Sheriff's Office said.
Sheriff's spokesman Lt. Jerry Nelson said the victim's name has not been released.
The crash happened Sunday afternoon.
No other information is available at this time.
SAN CARLOS APACHE INDIAN RESERVATION - One person has died after a small plane crashed on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation Sunday afternoon.
Sheriff's spokesman Lt. Jerry Nelson said two people were on board when the plane went down.
One person died in the crash, the other person's condition is unknown at this time.
Officials said a DPS helicopter is on scene investigating the accident.
