14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, November 19, 2012 in Oak Grove, LA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 01/13/2014
Aircraft: REDD TOM QUICKSILVER GT 400, registration: N4031Q
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.
The accident occurred during the pilot’s first flight in the light sport airplane that he had recently purchased. A witness reported seeing the airplane flying toward the runway before it disappeared from sight; the engine sound stopped, and the witness immediately heard a crash. The airplane collided with a tree, before impacting the ground in a nose-down, left–wing-low attitude. The airplane was equipped with a ballistic parachute system; however, the parachute was not deployed and the safety pin was found still installed in the parachute's firing handle with the “remove before flight” tag still attached.
The airplane was equipped with an electric fuel pump, which was installed in series with the engine-driven fuel pump. The engine manufacturer's manual states the following: "If the fuel tank is considerably lower than the engine, an electric pump should be used; this pump is to be connected in parallel as in case of series-connection the fuel pressure would be excessive." The fuel pump installed on the engine was identified as one typically used on two-stroke engines. The engine technician noted that this style fuel pump did not have bleed holes in it, which may make it prone to hydro-lock. The paper in-line fuel filter appeared dirty and had contaminates in it. According to the installation manual, a "suitable fuel filter…must be fitted between pump and carburetor. Do not use paper filters." Although the examination noted these abnormalities, none of them were identified as the specific reason for the loss of engine power.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The total loss of engine power, the specific cause of which could not be identified during the postaccident examination, and the airplane’s subsequent impact with trees.
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On November 19, 2012, about 0830 central standard time, an experimental, light sport Quicksilver GT400 airplane, N4031Q, impacted terrain near Oak Grove, Louisiana. The private rated pilot, sole occupant, was fatally injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan.
According to family members, the pilot recently purchased the airplane and this was the pilot's first flight in the airplane. He departed about one hour before the accident and planned to fly locally. An individual, who lived near the airport, reported seeing the accident airplane headed north toward the runway. Once the witness lost sight of the airplane, he heard its engine stop flowed by a "crunch" sound.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
The pilot held a private pilot certificate for airplane single engine-land. The pilot's logbook was not recovered; however, the pilot reported a total of 1,006 hours on this application for third-class Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) medical on October 31, 2005. A review of the pilot's medical records revealed that the pilot's application for a medical certificate was denied, due to coronary disease and medications.
AIRPLANE INFORMATION
The accident airplane was a Quicksilver GT400, which was a kit built airplane and constructed from aluminum tubing, fiberglass, and covered with a polyester fabric. The airplane was configured with a single-seat and with fixed tricycle landing gear. The airplane was certified in the Experimental – Amateur Built category, and was originally equipped with a Rotax model 447 engine. At the time of the accident, the airplane was equipped with a Rotax 503 engine, and according to the previous owner had accrued a total of 69 total hours.
METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION
At 0835, the automated weather station at the Arcadia-Bienville Parish Airport, Arcadia, Louisiana (5F0), located about 10 miles northwest of Oak Grove, Louisiana, reported wind calm, temperature 50 degrees Fahrenheit (F), dew point 42 degrees Fahrenheit, (F), visibility 10 miles, a clear sky, and an altimeter pressure setting 30.34 inches of mercury.
COMMUNICATIONS & RADAR INFORMATION
The pilot was not in contact with air traffic control/radar service and no distress call from the pilot was reported.
WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION
An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) examined the airplane wreckage on site. The inspector reported that the airplane was equipped with a ballistic safety parachute; however, the safety pin was found still installed in the parachute's firing handle with the "remove before flight" tag still attached to the pin. Additionally, the main battery power switch was in the off position.
A tree located at the aft side of the airplane showed one limb had broken off; the limb was on the edge of a tree line. There was no impact damage to trees in the midst of the tree line. The damage to the tree limb is consistent with a near vertical descent of the airplane. Damage to the airplane and ground scars were also consistent with a left wing ground impact, a roll to the left, and finally coming to rest with the fuselage on its left side. The airplane's tail section was at an approximate 35 degree angle from the fuselage.
The fuel tank was found to be about half full of fuel. Only residual fuel were found in the fuel lines and the carburetor float bowls. Additionally, there was no fuel in the in-line fuel filter; the filter appeared to be dirty with unidentified contaminates in it. The transparent fuel lines appeared to be in a degraded condition.
An on-site examination of the engine did not identify any operational problems; however, the ignition switch would produce a shock to an individual, whenever the switch was turned to the "start" position. The switch was removed from the airplane and shipped to the NTSB Materials Laboratory in Washington, D.C.
MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION
An autopsy was conducted on the pilot on November 19, 2012, by the West Carroll Parrish Coroner's Office, Louisiana. The cause of death was determined to be from multiple injuries.
The FAA Toxicology Accident Research Library, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, conducted toxicological testing on the pilot. The results were negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, and ethanol. Diphenhydramine and Stalol were detected in muscle and blood. Diphenhydramine is a sedating antihistamine and sleep aid available over the counter in drugs marketed under the trade names Benadryl and Unisom. According to the FDA, Sotalol is a prescription antiarrhythmic beta blocker with both Class II and III antiarrhythmic properties. It is used treat atrial fibrillation and ventricular arrhythmias but carries a warning that it may also cause life threatening ventricular arrhythmias.
TEST AND RESEARCH
The ignition switch installed in the airplane was an ACS Model No A-510-2. The switch was the subject of a 1993 Airworthiness Directive (AD) that required the switch to be periodically inspected to determine wear, corrosion, and to lubricate the switch. The switch is to be lubricated with Mobil grease 33. Examination of the switch prior to disassembly, produced indications of electrical continuity from the key through the rest of the switch, when the key was turned. The switch was dissembled, and a sample of the grease inside was identified as a graphite thickened lubricant.
Further examination of the airplane revealed that airplane was equipped with an automotive fuel pump installed outside of the fuel tank, and the fuel filter was installed on the outflow side of the pump. A Mr. Gasket fuel pump model 42s was installed in series with the engine's fuel pump. The Rotax 503 manual states the following: "If the fuel tank is considerably lower than the engine, an electric pump should be used; this pump is to be connected in parallel as in case of series-connection the fuel pressure would be excessive." The fuel pump installed on the engine was identified as a Mikuni pump, typically used on two stroke engines for snowmobiles and ATV's. The Rotax technician noted that, this style pump does not have the bleed holes drilled in it the way the pumps from Rotax do; without these bleed holes this style pump may hydro lock. The in-line fuel filter installed was a paper type filter. Additionally, the Rotax 503 installation manual states the following, "A suitable fuel filter of 0.15 mm mesh size must be fitted between pump and carburetor. Do not use paper filters." The sparkplugs appeared to be in new condition and were gapped at 0.030; the recommended gap is 018-.023 of an inch. A post-crash engine run was conducted; the engine started and was able to produce power.
NTSB Identification: CEN13LA063
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Monday, November 19, 2012 in Oak Grove, LA
Aircraft: REDD TOM QUICKSILVER GT 400, registration: N4031Q
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 November 19, 2012, about 1100 central standard time, an experimental, light sport Quicksilver GT400 airplane, N4031Q, impacted terrain near Oak Grove, Louisiana. The private rated pilot, the sole occupant on board, received fatal injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight.
The airplane and engine was retained for further examination.
IDENTIFICATION
Regis#: 4031Q Make/Model: EXP Description: QUICKSILVER GT 400
Date: 11/19/2012 Time: 1500
Event Type: Accident Highest Injury: Fatal Mid Air: N Missing: N
Damage: Unknown
LOCATION
City: OAK GROVE State: LA Country: US
DESCRIPTION
AIRCRAFT CRASHED UNDER UNKNOWN CIRCUMSTANCES, THE 1 PERSON ON BOARD WAS
FATALLY INJURED, NEAR OAK GROVE, LA
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: BATON ROUGE, LA (SW03) Entry date: 11/20/2012
http://registry.faa.gov/N4031Q
West Carroll plane crash, photo courtesy Sheriff Jerry Philley
WEST CARROLL PARISH, La. (KNOE 8 News) - A small plane crash in West Carroll Parish has killed the son of a former sheriff.
The West Carroll Sheriff's office tells us that 68-year-old Randy Capers was killed in the crash, which happened around 8:55 A.M. Monday, about eleven miles northwest of Oak Grove. Capers is the son of former West Carroll Parish Sheriff W.E. Capers, who served in the late 1960s.
http://www.knoe.com
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a Monday morning plane crash in West Carroll Parish.
According to Sheriff Jerry Philley, dispatchers received a call around 8:55 a.m. Monday that an airplane had crashed about 11 miles northwest of Oak Grove.
When deputies arrived at the scene, near 15134 Louisiana 585, an investigation revealed that a small single engine aircraft had crashed. Investigators had determined Randy L. Capers, of Oak Grove, later died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.
Philley said the Federal Aviation Administration was called to scene of crash and have contacted the NTSB about continuing the investigation into the cause of crash.
OAK GROVE, La., (KNOE 8 News) - The son of a former West Carroll Sheriff has been killed in a small plane crash in West Carroll Parish. According to Sheriff Jerry Philley, the crash occurred about 10 miles Northwest of Oak Grove.
