Saturday, August 17, 2013

Bradley Aerobat BA-100, N27BD: Accident occurred August 10, 2013 at Skylark Field Airport (KILE), Killeen, Texas

NTSB Identification: CEN13LA478
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, August 10, 2013 in Killeen, TX
Probable Cause Approval Date: 03/24/2014
Aircraft: DOUGLAS BRIAN G BA-100, registration: N27BD
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

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 stated that, during taxi and takeoff, he set the engine fuel mixture control to the full-rich position. While in the crosswind turn, the engine lost partial power, and the pilot made a forced landing in a forested area. Examination of the engine revealed that the No. 1 cylinder’s spark plugs were completely carbon-fouled and that the Nos. 2 through 4 cylinders’ spark plugs were badly sooted. It is likely that the pilot did not properly manage the engine mixture, which led to an over-rich fuel mixture condition during the takeoff and resulted in a partial loss of engine power.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot’s improper management of the fuel mixture, which resulted in an over-rich fuel mixture condition and a subsequent partial loss of engine power.
 

On August 10, 2013, about 0927 central daylight time, a Brian Douglas BA-100 airplane, N27BD, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Killeen, Texas. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which departed without a flight plan. The local flight originated from Skylark Field Airport (KILE), near Killeen, Texas, about 0925.

According to the pilot's statement, the airplane departed Runway 01 at KILE and the engine lost partial power while in the crosswind turn. The pilot considered turning back toward the runway, but elected not to because he was concerned that the airplane might enter into a spin. The pilot maneuvered the airplane and made a forced landing, during which both wings were structurally damaged during impact with trees.

Following the accident, the engine and fuel system were examined by an airframe and powerplant mechanic. Both fuel tanks were about ¾ full, with no evidence of fuel contamination. The magnetos and ignition leads were operable. Both spark plugs for the #1 cylinder were completely carbon fouled and the spark plugs for #2-#4 cylinders were significantly sooted. The pilot stated that he had set the engine mixture control to the full rich position during taxi and takeoff for the accident flight.



 http://registry.faa.gov/N27BD 
 
NTSB Identification: CEN13LA478
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, August 10, 2013 in Killeen, TX
Aircraft: DOUGLAS BRIAN G BA-100, registration: N27BD
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

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 August 10, 2013, about 0927 central daylight time, a Brian Douglas BA-100 airplane, N27BD, conducted a forced landing near Killeen, Texas. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. 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. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which departed without a flight plan. The local flight originated from Skylark Field Airport (KILE) near Killeen, Texas, about 0925.

According to the pilot’s statement and an on-board video, the engine experienced a partial loss of power after takeoff. While executing a crosswind turn, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot maneuvered to execute a forced landing into trees.



 
A pilot landed in trees after his engine failed this morning.

The Killeen police and fire departments and the Texas Department of Public Safety responded to a 911 call at 9:24 a.m. today in reference to a possible plane crash in the area of Roy Reynolds and Veterans Memorial Boulevard, according to a news release.


As officers were responding, the 56-year-old pilot called 911 and said he landed in trees about 200 meters east of Skylark Airfield. Upon the arrival, officers were unable to see where the plane landed. They searched for several minutes until they heard the pilot, who guided them to his location.

The pilot said he took off from Skylark Airfield when his aircraft experienced engine failure, the release stated. He safely landed the aircraft in a heavily wooded area northeast of the Skylark Airfield, behind the Fast Eddies Tire Repair business. No one was injured.
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Footage from within the plane shows the aircraft taking off on the runway in Killeen, Texas, but it soon experiences some technical difficulties.   

From the footage of the different cameras on board, the plane appears to lean heavily to the right as the propeller at the front of the aircraft gradually comes to a halt. 

The pilot is forced to crash land into some trees a few hundred yards from the edge of the Skylark Airfield.  Fortunately the pilot can be seen getting out of the aircraft after the crash and saying "you've just survived a plane crash!"

The Killeen Daily Herald reported that a 56-year-old pilot landed in trees after his engine failed on 10 August. They said that no one was injured in the incident.