Docket And Docket Items - National Transportation Safety Board: http://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
National Transportation Safety Board - Aviation Accident Data Summary: http://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
NTSB Identification: WPR13FA380
14 CFR Part 91: General AviationAccident occurred Sunday, August 18, 2013 in Cataldo, ID
Probable Cause Approval Date: 05/08/2014
Aircraft: NELSON KR-2, registration: N9028Q
Injuries: 1 Fatal.
NTSB investigators either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The experimental/amateur built airplane was being operated by the pilot as a personal local flight. The airport manager reported that, in previous conversations, the pilot had told him that he was interested in practicing spins and other maneuvers in the airplane and that he had directed the pilot to a known practice area for the airport. Witnesses reported seeing the airplane spiraling toward the ground in the distance, and, although they did not see the impact, they were concerned, so a search for the airplane was initiated, and the wreckage was located in the area where the airport manager had directed the pilot.
A video-recording device found in the airplane contained a digital file that captured the accident flight from taxi to impact. The video showed the pilot initiating an intentional left spin. During the first few rotations, the engine quit, and the propeller stopped turning. After several additional rotations, the spin stabilized but the airplane continued its descent about 20-degrees nose down until impact. During the descent, the pilot was observed applying various control inputs without effect.
The airplane had been modified from the original design specifications and was equipped with a heavier engine than the engine recommended by the kit manufacturer. The kit manufacturer reported that, if the airplane was built to the manufacturer’s specification and engine recommendation, the airplane had spin and recovery characteristics similar to low-wing airplanes. However, due to the modifications on the accident airplane, the spin characteristics were unknown. Regardless, the airplane had not been test flown for spins.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot’s decision to intentionally enter a spin in the airplane, which had unknown spin characteristics due to the engine modification, from which he was unable to recover.
HISTORY OF FLIGHT
On August 18, 2013, about 1930 Pacific daylight time, a Nelson KR2, amateur-built experimental airplane, N9028Q, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees and terrain, about four miles west of Cataldo, Idaho. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a personal local flight, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight departed the Shoshone County Airport (KS83), Kellogg, Idaho, about 1900.
According to the local Sheriff's Office, witnesses had seen the airplane spiraling toward the ground in the distance, and although they did not see the impact were concerned for the well-being of the pilot. A search for the airplane was initiated, which resulted in the wreckage being located by local residents and a law enforcement helicopter.
A video recording device found at the accident site was retained by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), for further examination by the NTSB Vehicle Recorder Division.
Witnesses interviewed at the Shoshone County Airport reported that on previous occasions the pilot had asked about airspace where he might practice spin recoveries, or mild aerobatics. The area of the accident was near the local practice area.
No pilot or airplane logbooks were discovered for examination.
PERSONNEL INFORMATION
The pilot, age 67, held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. He was issued a third-class Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman medical certificate without limitations on March 29, 2012.
No personal flight records were discovered for the pilot, and the aeronautical experience listed in this report was obtained from a review of the airman's FAA records on file in the Airman and Medical Records Center in Oklahoma City. On the pilot's most recent application for an airman medical certificate, dated March 29, 2012, he indicated that his total aeronautical experience consisted of about 305 hours, of which he listed 0 hours accrued in the previous 6 months.
AIRCRAFT INFORMATION
The airplane was an experimental/amateur-built Nelson KR2, N9028Q, manufactured in 1980, and equipped with a Continental Motors A-75 series engine.
No airframe or engine logbooks were discovered for examination. However, the aircraft mechanic who performed the last required annual condition inspection provided documentation showing that the last condition inspection was completed on April 3, 2013, and at the time of the inspection the airplane had accrued 519.9 hours of total airframe flight/operating time.
WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION
On August 19, the wreckage was examined at the crash site by the NTSB IIC, accompanied by an FAA aviation safety inspector. The airplane had descended near vertically through dense trees and brush to impact with terrain. It came to rest upright on a moderately steep slope. The left wing and empennage were severed from the airplane, but the control cables remained intact, and control continuity was established. All of the major components, flight control surfaces, and structural members were present at the accident site. The impact site was 40 to 50 feet in diameter.
MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION
A postmortem examination of the pilot was performed under the authority of the Spokane County Medical Examiner, Spokane, Washington, on August 20, 2013. The examination revealed that the cause of death was attributed to blunt force injuries associated with an airplane accident.
A toxicological examination by the FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI) on September 19, 2013, was negative for any alcohol or drugs.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
On-board Video Recorder
During the examination of the airplane at the accident site, the IIC located a Contour Roam 2 video recorder in the wreckage. The camera was sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorder Laboratory in Washington, DC for examination.
The examination revealed that the video recorder was undamaged, and contained numerous video files. The two most recent files pertained to the accident flight. The recorder was mounted in the airplane at the rear of the cabin/cockpit, essentially looking over the pilot's right shoulder. The instrument panel and some flight controls are visible in the foreground, with the pilot on the left.
The first file, FILE0005.mp4, was 2 minutes and 39 seconds in length, and recorded the pilot starting the airplane. The airplane does not have an electric starter, and the video captured the pilot hand propping the airplane. The pilot was outside the airplane in this video.
The second file, FILE0006.mp4, was 3 hours and 47 minutes in duration, and captured the accident flight from taxi to the impact at the accident site.
Essentially, the first part of the flight was uneventful with the pilot performing some turns and steep banked maneuvers. Upon reaching the geographical area where the accident occurred, the pilot initiated an intentional spin, throttling the engine to idle, pulling on the carburetor heat, and increasing the nose up attitude of the airplane until it stalled and entered a spin to the left. During the first few rotations the engine quit, and the propeller stopped turning. After several rotations the spin stabilized about 20 degrees nose down, and remained in the steady state until impact. During the descent the pilot was observed attempting various control inputs without effect.
Airplane design
The KR 2 was originally designed by Rand Robinson Engineering. The prototype was completed in late May of 1974, and the first flight was on June 1. The airplanes are either plans or kit built, and may be equipped in a tailwheel configuration with retractable landing gear, or tricycle fixed landing gear. The original design specifications called for a 1600 to 1700 cubic centimeter Volkswagen engine.
Current manufacturing rights of the KR 2 airplane belong to nVAero, Mission Viejo, California.
Spin Characteristics
During a telephone conversation with the NTSB IIC on October 15, the owner of nVAero stated that he was aware of the accident airplane, and knew that the airplane was equipped with a Continental aircraft engine. He said the Continental engine is heavier than the recommended VW engine. He further stated that he had spun other KR 2 airplanes in the past, and that the spin and recovery characteristics of the "stock" airplanes (meaning plans/kit built airplanes adhering closely to build specification and engine recommendations) were similar to other low-wing light airplanes. He said due to the modifications on the accident airplane, he could not speak to its spin characteristics.
FAA Documents
Experimental Amateur-Built airplanes are issued Special Airworthiness Certificates. The accident airplane's Special Airworthiness Certificate was issued on August 14, 2012. Prior to the issuance of the certificate, the builder must provide a statement of Experimental Operating Limitations for Phase I and Phase II of the flight test period, as prescribed in FAA Order 8130.2G, change 1, dated 7/2/2012.
The accident airplane's statement of limitations includes aerobatic maneuvers for which the airplane had been test flown. A spin is an aerobatic maneuver. The accident airplane was test flown for wing-overs, rolls, and loops, but was not test flown for spins. A copy of the Airplane's Operating Limitations is attached to the docket for this report.
http://registry.faa.gov/N9028Q
NTSB Identification: WPR13FA380
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, August 18, 2013 in Cataldo, ID
Aircraft: NELSON EDGAR H KR-2, registration: N9028Q
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 either traveled in support of this investigation or conducted a significant amount of investigative work without any travel, and used data obtained from various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On August 18, 2013, about 1930 Pacific daylight time, a Nelson Edgar H KR2, amateur-built experimental airplane, N9028Q, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees and terrain, about four miles west of Cataldo, Idaho. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a personal local flight, under the provisions of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot received fatal injuries. The flight departed the Kellogg, Shoshone County Airport (KS83), Kellogg, Idaho, about 1900.
According to the local Sheriff's Office, witnesses had seen the airplane spiraling toward the ground in the distance, and although they did not see the impact were concerned for the well-being of the pilot. A search for the airplane was initiated and later located by local residents and a law enforcement helicopter.
On August 19, the wreckage was examined at the crash site by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), accompanied by an FAA air safety inspector. The airplane descended vertically through dense trees and brush and impacted the ground. It came to rest upright on a moderately steep slope. The left wing and empennage were severed from the airplane, but the control cables remained intact, and control continuity was established. All of the major components, flight control surfaces, and structural members were present at the site. The impact site was 40-50 feet in diameter.
Witnesses interviewed at the Shoshone County Airport reported that on previous occasions the pilot inquired about airspace where he might practice spin recoveries and aerobatics. The area of the accident was near the local practice area.
Mike Lippis is consoled by two female residents of the home near the crash site of his father's plane.
Pilot dies in crash
Michael S. Donaldson, aviation safety inspector for the Federal Aviation Administration, conducts an investigation of a small airplane crash Monday near a residence in Cataldo. The small, single engine aircraft craft was reported Sunday evening killing the single passenger and pilot John T. Lippis.
CATALDO - As Mark Pennington looked over the plane that just missed his rural Kootenai County home when it crashed Sunday night, the teen reflected on how stunning the accident was.
John T. Lippis, 67, Spokane, the pilot and lone occupant of the 1980 fixed-wing, single-engine "experimental" (amateur-built) plane, died in the crash at 13778 S. Beaver Road on a ridge between Rose Lake and Cataldo.
"The last moments of his life were spent on that plane," Pennington said softly. "I can't imagine it."
The two-seat plane crashed in thick brush and trees about 50 feet from the home and 10 feet behind a boat and guest house on the property.
Although no one was home at the time of the crash, Pennington said the plane would likely have caused heavy property damage if it had struck the house. He said it's bizarre that a plane crashed next to the home in the country.
"It's not every day that you have a plane crash in your backyard," he said.
Mike Lippis, the pilot's son, said on scene on Monday morning that his father has flown planes for several years. He owned the one that crashed for about a year.
"He was getting some practice in before flying it to Denver," Mike Lippis said. "He lived a life of integrity."
John Lippis and his sons, Dan and Mike, founded Swedish Motorcar Service in Spokane in 1991. The company specializes in Saab repairs. John had serviced Saabs for more than 40 years.
"He took exceptional care of his customers," Lippis said of his father. "He was generous and always helping others."
Barbara Pennington, who lives at the residence where the crash occurred, consoled Mike Lippis after he arrived on Monday morning to see the wreck.
"I've been praying for the family all morning about it," she said. "We'll put a cross back there (at the crash scene) for them."
Neighbors reported hearing what sounded like a plane crash at 7:45 p.m. Sunday.
"Indications are that Lippis had taken off from the Shoshone County airport at an unknown time in the afternoon (on Sunday) to do some recreational flying in the area," a Kootenai County Sheriff's Office press release states.
Lippis has a hangar at the airport and regularly flew around Shoshone County in the evenings, investigators said.
The KCSO, Idaho State Police, Shoshone County EMS, the Rose Lake Quick Response Unit and Medstar helicopter responded to search for the plane.
At 10:50 p.m., with the assistance of the Spokane County Sheriff's Office's Air One Unit, the crash scene was located.
The National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are investigating the crash to determine the cause.
Larry Lewis, NTSB air safety investigator, said it could take several days to piece together what happened. Such small planes don't have black boxes to help investigators understand what happened in the moments before the crash.
He said he planned to interview witnesses and personnel from the airport where Lippis took off. Plane and pilot records will also be reviewed.
"We're still in the preliminary stages of the investigation," Lewis said.
All of the parts of the plane were at the crash scene, making Lewis believe it didn't fall apart in the air.
Lewis said that since much of the foliage around the plane appeared to be undisturbed, it appeared the plane had a vertical descent before the crash.
A camera was recovered from the plane, but investigators didn't say whether it offers any clues as to what happened.
The Kootenai County Coroner's Office has requested an autopsy.
Story, Photos and Comments/Reaction: http://www.cdapress.com
CATALDO, Idaho -- The Kootenai County sheriff's office said the pilot of a small plane was killed in a crash Sunday night near Cataldo. The pilot was the only person on board according to authorities.
Officials identified the pilot as John T. Lippis, 67, of Spokane. Investigators are still at the crash site located near a home on Beaver Road in the Cataldo, Idaho area.
Authorities in North Idaho said they found the site of a plane crash on Beaver Road after more than three hours of searching. They were notified of the crash on Sunday evening around 7:45 p.m.
Shoshone County, Kootenai County, Idaho State Police and multiple fire and rescue departments were all out in this area searching. Air One also helped find the crash site.
Officials said the plane was a 1980 fixed-wing, single engine plane classified as "experimental." Investigators said Lippis had taken off from the Shoshone County Airport something Sunday afternoon to do recreational flying.
Officials said there are no indications as to the cause of the crash. An autopsy has been requested by the Coroner's office.
Lippis’ son was on the scene Monday afternoon. He said his father was preparing to fly to Colorado to visit his mother. He described his father as a generous person. Lippis owned a repair shop in Spokane according to his son.
Investigators for the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.
Source: http://www.krem.com
CATALDO, Idaho - The NTSB and FAA have now finished the ground investigation into the crash of a small two-seater airplane that killed the pilot, John Lippis, 67, of Spokane.
Police were called around 7:30 p.m. Sunday, after witnesses reported what sounded like a plane crash just west of the small town of Cataldo, Idaho. It took searchers from Kootenai County, Shoshone County and Idaho State Police three hours to find the wreckage – which narrowly missed a home and shed in the forested 13000 block of Beaver Road.
"A neighbor called me and told me about it, and so right away I went outside and walked on top of the hill and of course I didn't see anything," neighbor Dennis Sager said. "It is hilly and there are a lot of trees, and if it's among those trees, well, it's impossible to see it, unless you're right on it."
Lippis was the only person aboard the KR2 single-engine, fixed-wing kit plane, built in 1980. The Kootenai County Sheriff's Office reported he had taken off from the Shoshone County Airport for recreational flying sometime Sunday afternoon, but it's still not clear what caused him to go down.
"That doesn't usually happen that close to home, but that can happen anywhere I guess," Sager added.
Lippis opened Swedish Motorcar Service on East Francis in Spokane back in 1991 along with his two sons, according to the business' website.
The plane narrowly missed one of about three homes on the rural road – coming within feet of a shed on the property. The NTSB should release the cause of the crash in the coming days, and an autopsy will be performed to rule out any possible medical emergencies that may have contributed to the crash.
Source: http://www.khq.com
CATALDO--John T. Lippis, 67, a Spokane resident with a hangar at the Shoshone County Airport for his 1980 fixed-wing, single engine plane classified as an "experimental" died Sunday night after his plane crashed in a rural-residential area in Cataldo.
Lieutenant Stu Miller with the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office said that Lippis frequently took recreational flights around Shoshone County during evenings. It is unknown at this time when Lippis took off, but Miller said it was sometime Sunday afternoon.
The Spokane native's plane was discovered at approximately 11 p.m. in the area of South River Rd. and South Beaver Rd. in Cataldo when a resident of 13778 S. Beaver Road arrived home. Miller said she heard from neighbors that there was a plane crash and so she took a flashlight into her backyard and discovered the plane.
Miller said that one wing was left intact on the plane when it was discovered. An "experimental" plane means that the aircraft was not built by a known manufacturer and was home-built over three decades ago.
Miller added that residents near Tamarack Ridge Rd. first called into authorities about a low-flying plane at approximately 7:45 p.m.
Spokane County Sheriff's Office Air One Unit used an emergency beacon locator on the plane belonging to Lippis, but it took more than three hours to find the crash scene.
Miller said the woman's father was home at the time of the crash, but did not notice any disturbance.
Lippis was the sole occupant of the small plane and he was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration are currently at the crash site to help determine the cause of the crash, according to Miller.
An autopsy has been requested by the Kootenai County Coroner's office, though an exact date has not been released.
Personnel from Shoshone County Fire District 2 responded to the area of the crash and Miller said that several law enforcement agencies are also assisting.
