Wednesday, April 01, 2015

University of Wyoming Aims to Replace King Air Research Aircraft

April 1, 2015 — For more than 38 years, the Beechcraft King Air 200T, the University of Wyoming’s research aircraft, has flown into weather most pilots would rather avoid. For the sake of science, the plane has breached heavy snow and thunderstorms to learn more about how these precipitations occur and act in the atmosphere.

But the atmospheric research aircraft is approaching its limits, say UW researchers who use and manage the research facility. Limited to 10,000 flight hours under Federal Aviation Administration restrictions, the plane is quickly approaching the 8,000 flight-hour threshold.

While the plane is still safe for more research missions, now is the time to begin plans to replace the twin-engine turboprop, says Al Rodi, professor in UW’s Department of Atmospheric Science.

“The aircraft is nearing the end of its life,” says Rodi, who serves as facility manager for the research King Air and director of UW’s Flight Center. “We’re getting to the point of being nervously close. It’s time to look forward to a new airplane.”

Earlier this month, as part of UW’s supplemental budget request, the state Legislature provided $250,000 in one-time funding for UW to begin planning for acquisition and equipping of a new research aircraft.

UW has owned the King Air since 1977, when it was purchased for $1 million. Over the ensuing years, additional millions have been spent for instrumentation and airframe modification, such as for radar and LIDAR.

But, as the years go on, such new installations, as well as maintenance, become increasingly difficult, says Jeff French, project manager of King Air and a UW assistant professor of atmospheric science. In 1977, no one envisioned you would want to have a computer inside the aircraft with instruments on the wing communicating via fiber-optic cable, he says.

“We’re constantly coming up with new instruments. Every time you come up with a new instrument, you have to find a way to bolt it onto the airframe,” French explains. “With a new aircraft, you can start with a clean slate. With an old plane, you have to work with the modifications you have. It becomes harder as you add new instruments.”

While numerous parts of the aircraft, such as the engine and avionics, can be maintained or replaced, it is the airframe or body that is limited to 10,000 flight hours, French says. The airframe eventually suffers from what French termed “metal fatigue,” which can result in cracks or micro-cracks to the aircraft’s structural integrity.

Either French or Larry Oolman, another project manager, flies on every King Air flight for safety and mission purposes. The project manager’s primary job is to ensure the scientist(s) and the pilot communicate in such a way that it leads to a successful mission, French says.

“The reason we think it’s a good idea to replace it (King Air) is because we don’t know how flying in turbulent conditions, such as thunderstorms, has affected it,” French says of the precipitation pounding the plane has taken over the years. “We don’t know how well the airframe has withstood the motions.”

Read more here:   http://www.uwyo.edu

Judge blocks Allegiant Air pilots from striking

A federal judge issued an order Wednesday temporarily blocking Allegiant Air pilots from striking after they announced a Thursday walkout.

Chief Judge Gloria Navarro of U.S. District Court in Las Vegas said in the ruling, "The court finds that Allegiant is entitled to an ex parte temporary restraining order that enjoins (the union) and the other defendants from engaging in, encouraging, or calling an unlawful strike against Allegiant by its pilots in violation of the defendants' duties under the (Railway Labor Act)."

The strike potentially would have grounded more than 250 flights across the country and affecting more than 33,000 customers, the Airline Professionals Association Teamsters Local 1224 said Wednesday before the judge's ruling.

Among Allegiant's scheduled flights on Thursday are runs from Duluth to Las Vegas, and from Las Vegas back to Duluth. The airline announced last month that it will end its twice-weekly flights from Duluth to Las Vegas on May 18, after nine years in the Duluth market.

The strike would have followed more than two years of unsuccessful contract talks and a slew of allegations made by the union and management alike.

"This irresponsible and illegal action by the Teamsters has been timed to coincide with the busy holiday travel period, and unfortunately, will likely disrupt flights and passengers in and out of all of our destinations," the company said in a statement.

Allegiant sued the pilots union in federal court on Monday, saying it had violated the Railway Labor Act by moving to strike before the parties had exerted every effort to settle their disputes.

The National Mediation Board, which oversees collective bargaining for U.S. airlines, had told the parties on March 23 to continue negotiations, the lawsuit said.

"Allegiant is taking immediate legal action to put an end to the strike and restore normal service as quickly as possible," the company said in its Wednesday statement. "Instead of addressing their issues at the bargaining table, the Teamsters have resorted to heavy-handed and disruptive tactics rather than working toward a resolution."

The union had alleged that Allegiant didn't abide by a July 2014 federal court injunction that directed the airline to restore the pilots' benefits and work rule protections to levels negotiated previously. More than 98 percent of 473 participating pilots voted in January to authorize a strike.

"Striking is a last resort, but we cannot continue to stand by a company that flaunts the law by robbing the pilots of legally protected rights and benefits," Allegiant pilot Tom Pozdro said in the union's statement.

Source:  http://www.duluthnewstribune.com

Allegiant Air responds to union's safety accusations

Allegiant Air, the budget airline making its Raleigh-Durham International Airport debut in May, is “just barely meeting acceptable safety standards,” according to a letter published Monday on the International Brotherhood of Teamsters' website, the union representing Allegiant's pilots.

“The fact is we are uncomfortable remaining silent about company practices that negatively impact our customers’ travel and vacation, including your comfort, and – most importantly – your safety,” the letter reads.

Allegiant has about 500 pilots and, according to a union spokesperson, 498 are members.

The letter goes on to call out the fleet for “persistent mechanical problems” and “poor equipment,” as well as “the company’s unwillingness to invest in its operation or its workforce.”

The situation could soon come to a head, as the union sent out a news release Wednesday warning of a pilots' strike April 2. The strike, according to the release, would impact the airline's major hubs across the country, including Orlando, Phoenix, Tampa and Las Vegas. As Allegiant has yet to take off from RDU, it's not something that would impact Triangle flights.

Allegiant accused the union of engaging in “scare tactics” and “manipulating facts” instead of addressing the issues at the bargaining table.

“The safety of our passengers and crew is, above all, our number on priority,” says Steve Harfst, chief operating officer of Allegiant. “Allegiant has one of the best safety records among passenger airlines in the world and complies with all FAA regulations.”

A search for incidents involving Allegiant planes on the Federal Aviation Administration’s Accident and Incident Data System showed 19 reports between 2005 and 2014, all resulting in minor or no damage to the aircraft.

The airline and the union are currently negotiating a contract. The National Mediation Board, the agency that oversees the collective bargaining process, directed both the union and the airline to return to the bargaining table April 29 in Washington, D.C.

In March, an Allegiant executive told Triangle Business Journal that Allegiant was making investments, buying newer planes for its western fleet. Jude Bricker, senior vice president of planning for the airline, said that while newer planes weren’t being purchased specifically for the RDU expansion, RDU flights would benefit from the newer technology, as the planes the new aircraft will be replacing will shift east.

The airline has been making moves to increase its coffer. According to securities filings, the airline borrowed $7.5 million from Nevada State Bank via a subsidiary. Proceeds will be used for general corporate purposes. Additionally, the company closed on a loan agreement, borrowing $30 million, secured by two aircraft, also to be used for general corporate purposes.

As for its expansion into RDU, the company is not planning to hire additional personnel, instead relying on an outside ground crew contractor.

Allegiant focuses on the leisure market, offering budget flights to vacation destinations such as Orlando and Punta Gorda, Florida. To keep prices low, the airline charges extra for many things that are standard on other airlines, such as carry-on luggage.

Source:  http://www.bizjournals.com

Bede BD-22, N224BD: Fatal accident occurred April 01, 2015 in St. Lucie County, Florida

National Transportation Safety Board - Aviation Accident Final Report: http://app.ntsb.gov/pdf 

National Transportation Safety Board - Docket And Docket Items:   http://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

National Transportation Safety Board -  Aviation Accident Data Summary:   http://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

BEDECORP LLC: http://registry.faa.gov/N224BD

NTSB Identification: ERA15FA175
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, April 01, 2015 in Fort Pierce, FL
Probable Cause Approval Date: 07/25/2016
Aircraft: BEDECORP LLC BD-22, registration: N224BD
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 commercial pilot was tasked with performing high-speed taxi tests and familiarization with the experimental airplane. After performing two high-speed taxis, the pilot requested taxi clearance to the active runway, received a takeoff clearance, and departed from the runway. Witnesses reported that, after departure and while in the traffic pattern, the airplane’s pitch oscillated and that, when it turned onto the final leg of the traffic pattern, it continued to pitch up and down. The airplane subsequently descended and impacted terrain about 1 mile from the approach end of the runway.

Images captured by an onboard video recorder provided information about where the pilot’s attention was directed, his interaction with the flight controls, and the status of cockpit instruments and engine indicators. The information indicated that the pilot did not pin his left arm to the armrest and that he used his entire forearm to move the airplane’s sidestick flight control. In addition, the pilot released and re-gripped the sidestick several times, which exacerbated the negative g maneuvers. These control inputs were indicative of the pilot overcontrolling the airplane. As the pilot flew the right-hand traffic pattern, he repeatedly turned his head right and/or reached right. These movements and distractions resulted in the airplane beginning to oscillate. In each of the pitch excursions, except for one that occurred during the takeoff, the pilot’s left arm moved fore and aft, and negative gs were present. During the flight, as the speed increased, each pitch oscillation increased; the final adjustment of the flight control by the pilot resulted in an overstress of the airframe and its subsequent in-flight breakup. A postaccident examination of the airframe, flight controls, and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Although the pilot reported a high level of total flight experience, he had accumulated less than 1/2 hour of total flight experience in the accident airplane make and model at the time of the accident. The airplane manufacturer’s flight test policy indicated that, to gain experience, pilots should first taxi the airplane, then perform high-speed taxis, then perform high-speed taxis with the nose gear off the ground, and finally, after the pilot was comfortable with the airplane, to perform a takeoff. The pilot decided to perform the takeoff without the requisite experience; therefore, he was operating contrary to the manufacturer’s flight test policy.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot's excessive pitch control inputs to the airplane’s sidestick control, which resulted in an overstress of the airframe and its subsequent in-flight breakup. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to operate the airplane contrary to the manufacturer's flight test policy.

HISTORY OF FLIGHT

On April 1, 2015, about 1100 eastern daylight time, an experimental Bedecorp BD-22, N224BD, was destroyed when it impacted terrain while attempting to land at St. Lucie County International Airport (FPR), Fort Pierce, Florida. The airplane was owned and operated by Bedecorp, LLC. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local test flight. The flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 and originated at 1046 from FPR.

According to air traffic control data provided by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the pilot completed a total of two high speed taxi operations on runway 32 at FPR and then taxied to the ramp. One of the high speed taxis was recorded by an on-board video camera. Approximately 30 minutes later, the pilot requested taxi clearance to the active runway, received a take-off clearance, and departed runway 28L. After turning onto the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, the airplane overtook another airplane. The tower controller attempted to contact the pilot three times while the airplane was on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern and never received a response. Then, the pilot reported that the airplane was on the left base leg of the traffic pattern turning onto the final leg of the traffic pattern. The tower controller communicated that the pilot had not answered his calls and he was cleared to land on Runway 28L. The pilot read-back the landing clearance and the tower controller advised the pilot to call the tower after landing. The pilot responded that he "had a little unusual stuff" during the flight and apologized. Soon after, another pilot in the traffic pattern observed the accident airplane impact the ground.

The airplane manufacturer stated that the airplane was in the first stage of flight testing and the pilot was to only perform high speed taxi maneuvers so that he could become familiar with the airplane.

According to eyewitnesses, the airplane performed two taxi tests. Then, the airplane departed runway 28L, appeared to have "issues" because its pitch oscillated while in the traffic pattern. When the airplane turned on to the final leg of the traffic pattern, it continued to pitch up and down. Subsequently, the airplane descended and impacted terrain approximately one mile from the approach end of runway 28L.

PERSONNEL INFORMATION

According to FAA records, the pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane multiengine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea, instrument airplane, and a flight instructor certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine. The pilot reported, on his most recent second-class medial certificate application, dated December 11, 2013, a total flight experience of 4,500 flight hours and 50 hours in preceding six months. Furthermore, according to video evidence, the pilot had approximately 0.4 hours of experience in the accident airplane make and model, of which, 0.3 hours was taxiing. The pilot was employed by the operator as a test pilot, and the accident flight was the pilot's first in the airplane make and model.

AIRPLANE INFORMATION

According to FAA records, the airplane was issued a special airworthiness certificate on February 11, 2015, and registered to Bedecorp, LLC. It was equipped with a Lycoming O-235-L2C, 115-hp engine. At the time of the accident the airplane had accumulated about one hour of total time in service.

According to the manufacturer, the airplane was a prototype, and the flight testing had recently begun. In addition, during the previous flight, another test pilot had mentioned that the flight control "was too heavy" and it was not sensitive enough. Subsequently, the stabilator trim tab connecting rod ends were adjusted from the original position in order to provide more control authority. The airplane utilized a side-stick flight control, similar to other Bedecorp designed airplanes.

METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION

The 1053 recorded weather observation at FPR included wind from 280 at 8 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 22 degrees C, dew point 16 degrees C, and barometric altimeter of 30.18 inches of mercury.

AIRPORT INFORMATION

St. Lucie County International Airport was located 3 miles northwest of Fort Pierce, Florida. It had three runways designated 10R/28L, 14/32, and 10L/28R. The runway designated as 10R/28L was 6,492 feet-long and 150 feet-wide, constructed of asphalt and noted in "good condition." At the time of the accident the airport had an operating air traffic control tower.

WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION

The airplane impacted terrain in a nose down attitude and came to rest inverted, on a 092 degree magnetic heading. There was an impact crater approximately 18 inches deep. The on-board camera, canopy, and seats separated from the airframe.

The leading edge of the right wing exhibited impact crush damage along the entire span of the wing. The wing tip was separated but located in the vicinity of the right wing. The right aileron was separated and located approximately 12 feet aft of the right wing. The inboard 6-foot forward section of the right wing was consumed by post impact fire. The inboard right wing flap remained attached to the right wing and the outboard section was impact separated.

The empennage remained attached to the fuselage. The right stabilator remained attached to the empennage and was bent in the positive direction. The right stabilator tip remained attached to the stabilator. The right stabilator exhibited crush damage on the outboard leading edge. The left stabilator was separated from the empennage and located about one foot aft of the main wreckage. The left stabilator tip remained attached at all attach points. The rudder remained attached to the vertical stabilizer at all attach points and exhibited crush damage at the top section of the rudder. The vertical stabilizer remained attached to the empennage and exhibited crush damage on the approximate top 12 inches of the vertical stabilizer.

The inboard 6 foot section of the left wing was consumed by post impact fire. The entire span of the left wing leading edge exhibited crush damage. The left flap remained attached to the wing. The left aileron remained attached to the wing at all attach points. The left wing tip was separated and located in the vicinity of the main wreckage.

The fuselage remained intact and the cabin area was consumed by post impact fire. The main landing gear remained attached to the fuselage and exhibited fire damage. The nose landing gear was separated from the fuselage and located approximately 6 feet forward of the main wreckage. Flight control continuity was confirmed from the ailerons, rudder, and stabilators to the respective flight controls. There were no malfunctions or abnormalities of the airplane noted that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident.

The engine was located in the initial impact crater and remained attached to the fuselage through engine control cables. The oil pan, carburetor, oil filter, and a section of the engine driven fuel pump were impact separated from the engine and located in the initial impact crater. Cylinders Nos. 1 and 2 were impact damaged and bent aft. The push rod tubes for cylinders Nos. 1 and 2 were partially separated. Both magnetos and the starter remained attached to the engine. The spark plugs were removed and exhibited normal wear when compared to the Champion Check-a-Plug chart. The left and right magnetos were removed, but no spark was observed on any towers. Both magnetos were disassembled and the left magneto exhibited fire damage and there were no anomalies noted in the right magneto. A borescope was used to examine the cylinders and no anomalies were noted. The propeller hub remained attached to the propeller flange; however, both wooden propeller blades were impact separated from the propeller hub. Several wooden propeller blade sections were located within the impact crater.

MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION

The Medical Examiner Department, District 19, of Florida, performed an autopsy on the pilot. The autopsy report indicated that the pilot died as a result of "multiple blunt trauma injuries" and the report listed those injuries.

The FAA's Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, performed toxicological testing of the pilot. Fluid and tissue specimens from the pilot tested negative for cyanide, ethanol, and other drugs.

TESTS AND RESEARCH

A GoPro camera was shipped to the NTSB Recorders Laboratory for data download. The camera and the memory card were undamaged. The memory card was read out normally.

A Recorder Laboratory Specialist reviewed the video and prepared a transcript of the events from the video camera. The video revealed that the camera was mounted on a suction mount hanging from the top of the sliding canopy looking forward. It captured the taxi, takeoff, and the accident flight in the traffic pattern of FPR. Immediately after liftoff, the airplane began large pitch oscillations up and down. Loose objects would rise into view and fall, coincident with the observed pitch oscillations. This pattern continued throughout the flight. The pilot's left forearm was moving fore and aft to control the airplane. The forearm was not resting on and stationary to the metallic armrest area of the airplane, which indicated that the pilot was moving the sidestick control primarily through forearm motion rather than wrist action. Throughout the initial climb, there were several other pitch oscillations. Then, the pilot turned the airplane onto the crosswind leg of the traffic pattern and his attention was diverted to the right, and immediately the airplane again began pitch oscillations. Next, the pilot turned onto the downwind leg of the traffic pattern, and again, diverted his attention, and adjusted his grip on the sidestick. While his hand was not on the sidestick, the airplane began another pitch oscillation.

When the pilot maneuvered the airplane onto the final leg of the traffic pattern, he readjusted his grip on the sidestick and moved his right hand to the throttle, at which time the airplane began pitch oscillations and the pilot's right hand was noted moving upward, off the throttle. The pilot re-gripped the throttle and continued to line the airplane up with the intended runway for landing. A few seconds later, the airplane experienced a large pitch up, the pilot's hand moved downward and off the throttle, and the airplane had a positive pitch attitude. Immediately, the airplane experienced a large downward pitch oscillation and the canopy glass broke, the camera exited the airplane, and it rotated in the airstream behind the airplane. As the camera rotated, it captured the airplane until it impacted the ground, and soon after the camera came to rest in the vicinity of the airplane.

Throughout the accident flight, the airspeed of the airplane continuously increased to a maximum of about 160 mph while the airplane was on final approach to the runway. The pitch control inputs, pitch excursions, and energy of the objects rising into and falling from the camera view were increasing throughout the flight. The propeller was rotating, and the engine sound was smooth and continuous without interruption until the camera exited the airplane. In addition, during the video, the pilot was not observed utilizing any type of checklist.

Video Study

The GoPro video camera was mounted to the canopy of the airplane, aft and slightly to the right of the pilot. The instrument panel and both side stick controllers were in camera's recorded view. The pilot was using his left hand to control the left side stick.

Large fore/aft stick movements and corresponding pitch oscillations were observed from just after the takeoff to the end of the flight. There were periods where the stick movement and airplane pitch were relatively stable. The final pitch down culminated in a structural breakup where the seats separated from the airframe and the pilot was ejected through the airplane's canopy.

Overall, the pitch oscillations were consistent with the stick movements and both sticks moved in unison. Throughout the flight, the pilot did not rest his left arm to the armrest, rather the entire forearm was used to move the stick. In addition, the pilot released and re-gripped the stick several times. Repeatedly, the pilot would turn his head to the right and/or reach right, which resulted in the beginning of an oscillation. In each case, his left arm would move fore and aft and negative Gs were present in each of the pitch excursions except for the initial takeoff excursion. The speed of the airplane was steadily increasing throughout the flight, and on short final, the airspeed indicator indicated about160 mph. The recording included the final excursion, which was similar to a negative G excursion, although no G-meter was observed it appeared to be a greater force than the previous excursions.

The airplane manufacturer stated that the purpose of the taxi tests was for the pilot to become familiar with the control feel and characteristics of the airplane and the side-stick control. A representative of the company said that the pilot was expected to be able to carefully lift the nose gear off the runway without taking off and repeat this maneuver several times prior to being considered eligible to fly the airplane. This type of maneuver was not observed on the video of the accident flight.

Stabilator Spar and Bracket Examination

The stabilator spar and bracket were examined by the NTSB Materials Laboratory in Washington, DC. Magnified optical examinations of the fracture revealed features and deformation patterns consistent with an overstress separation with no indications of preexisting cracking such as fatigue. The stabilator brackets left bearing loop was fractured with features indicative of an overstress separation. Fracture deformation was to the left. The right hand bracket loop was intact. Deformation and contact marks were present at the bearing loop area consistent with leftward deflection of an attached clevis like structure. Both brackets showed shadow marks consistent with the presence of mounting hardware attaching the brackets to the common plate.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Bedecorp – Flight Handbook


The manufacturer's flight handbook contained "…information and guidelines for learning to fly a BD aircraft. These procedures required for test flying an aircraft, as well as new pilots checking themselves out in an aircraft." In addition, "as a general rule, it takes three days before the pilot is cleared for their initial take off and flight around the pattern. It is recommended that a majority of the flight testing be done in the early morning hours while the wind is calm. It is also important to give the pilot time to absorb and digest the information from each of the following steps. The list below is a minimum amount that the company requires a new pilot to perform in order to be checked out in the aircraft." The flight procedures checklist indicated that the pilot was to start learning the specifics of that make and model of airplane by first taxiing, then performing high speed taxies, performing high speed taxies with the nose gear off the ground, and finally, after he or she was comfortable with the airplane, to perform a takeoff.

NTSB Identification: ERA15FA175
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, April 01, 2015 in Fort Pierce, FL
Aircraft: BEDECORP LLC BD-22, registration: N224BD
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 April 1, 2015, about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Bedecorp BD-22L, N224BD, was destroyed when it impacted the ground near Fort Pierce, Florida, after departing St. Lucie County International Airport (FPR), Fort Pierce, Florida. The airplane was owned and operated by Bedecorp, LLC. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight. The test flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 and originated from FPR, about 1055.

According to the manufacturer, this was the pilot's first time operating the airplane. In addition, the pilot was to only perform high speed taxi tests in order to familiarize himself with the airplane.

According to a witness, the airplane performed two high speed taxi tests. Then, the airplane departed runway 28L, appeared to have "issues" because it was flying "unstable and …fast." According to another witness, when the airplane turned on to the final leg of the traffic pattern, it "violently pitch[ed] up and down" and then began a nose down descent. Subsequently, the airplane impacted terrain approximately one mile from the approach end of runway 28L.

According to Federal Aviation Administration records, the airplane was issued a special airworthiness certificate on February 11, 2015, and registered to Bedecorp, LLC. The special airworthiness certificate was issued for the purpose of research and development and market survey. The airplane was equipped with a Lycoming O-235-L2C engine. At the time of the accident the airplane had accumulated about one hour of total time.

A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that it impacted terrain in a nose down position and came to rest inverted on a 092 degree heading. There was an impact crater approximately 18 inches deep and all major components of the airplane were located in the vicinity of the wreckage. The airplane, forward of the aft bulkhead to the nose section, was consumed by postimpact fire. The engine was located in the impact crater and remained attached to the fuselage through control cables. The top spark plugs were removed, each cylinder was boroscoped, and no anomalies were noted.

A GoPro Video Camera was obtained from the accident site and shipped to the NTSB recorders laboratory for data download. A preliminary review of the camera revealed that the engine was operating during the accident sequence. The airframe was retained for further investigation.



ST. LUCIE VILLAGE — A fatal single-engine airplane crash into a quiet backyard along the Indian River Lagoon realized residents’ fears of such an event happening.

The airplane was returning to the St. Lucie County International Airport — on a path over the 300-home St. Lucie Village — when it crashed, burst into flames and threw the pilot 100 yards away, according to a witness.

The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office identified the pilot as 67-year-old Joseph Loney of Port St. Lucie.

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the crash of the Bedecorp BD-22 airplane and its cause, said FAA spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen. Bedecorp is an Ohio-based manufacturer of kit-built aircraft, and it has a hangar at the St. Lucie County International Airport. The FAA has not released any information on what may have preceded the crash and when the pilot took off from the airport.

Calls to the company weren’t returned on Wednesday afternoon.

Off-duty Sheriff Capt. Charlie Scavuzzo was heading home on the Indian River Lagoon after a fishing trip when at about 11 a.m. he saw “an airplane fading and having obvious engine problems. Then it dramatically did a downturn, falling 1,000 feet at about 70 to 100 mph.

“It hit the shore and exploded in flames,” as the pilot was tossed 100 yards away, he said.

Flames shot up 50 to 100 feet, he said.

Scavuzzo rushed ashore with his son and retired sheriff Master Deputy Neil Spector. They used the boat’s fire extinguisher and a hose from the nearby house and put out the burning grass” until St. Lucie County Fire District arrived.

“I just wished we could have been there to assist the pilot,” Scavuzzo said.

Remains of the airplane were left sitting nearby on the sandy shoreline Wednesday afternoon.

The crash was less than a mile from the airport that the aircraft was returning to, said Bergen. It was on a flight path over the historical village, a quiet enclave of homes along the Indian River Lagoon retaining thickets of natural forests.

Being on the flight path “has been a concern of homeowners,” said Sheriff Ken Mascara. “Only by the grace of God did it (the airplane) not hit the house.”

Airplanes “fly right over my house,” said homeowner Sharon Schorner, a 23-year resident of the village. “We all share those concerns that things could happen.”

Village Mayor Bill Thiess agreed, although he said the problems of aircraft and noise is low compared to five years ago. And the crash in the village is the only one in the memory of Thiess and Airport Director John Wiatrak.

In the last few years, the airport has worked to reduce noise and urges student pilots to turn before going over the village, Wiatrak said.

“We try to keep airplanes away from that neighborhood,” Wiatrak said.

Theiss credits a new airport runway with diverting airplanes.

“For the most part,” said Thiess, the problem “is under control. Obviously, there will always be an airport and we will always be here. We have learned to coexist.”

Story and photo gallery:  http://www.tcpalm.com