Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
http://registry.faa.gov/N335JT
Location: Homer, LA
Accident Number: CEN17LA228
Date & Time: 06/09/2017, 0830 CDT
Registration: N335JT
Aircraft: Thompson Angel Hawk II
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (total)
Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On June 9, 2017, about 0830 central daylight time, an amateur built Angel Hawk II airplane, N335JT, collided with terrain during a forced landing near the Homer Municipal Airport (5F4), Homer, Louisiana. The pilot/airplane builder was seriously injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to a private individual and was being operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual flight rules conditions existed near the accident site at the time of the accident, and a flight plan had not been filed for the local flight. The airplane departed 5F4 just before the accident.
The pilot reported that he had been having trouble with increased cylinder head temps on the engine, a VW Type 1. During one flight, the engine popped and quit when he was on downwind and he landed the airplane back on the runway. He couldn't get the engine to restart. He replaced some ignition system components and adjusted the valves which were too tight. He was then able to start the engine and it ran fine during run-up tests.
The plan for the accident flight was takeoff and circle above the runway to make sure the engine was running ok. Just after takeoff, the engine began sputtering. He made a left 180° turn to return to the runway and during the turn, the engine lost all power. He stated that the airplane stalled when he was in the turn and he did not have enough time to recover before contacting the ground.
The engine was originally a Volkswagen 1.6L Type 1, which had been converted by the pilot to a variation of the Volkswagen 1.9L Type 4. The fuel mixture adjustment was pre-set at the carburetor and not adjustable in the cockpit. The ignition system included a single battery, ignition coil, centrifugal advance distributor, points, condenser and one spark plug per cylinder. The lubrication system had an added external sump attached beneath the oil drain with steel braided hose connecting to a "spin-on" type oil filter mounted on the firewall. The engine had about 47 hours of operating time since new.
A postaccident examination of the engine was conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector. The examination revealed there was melted plastic material inside the distributor rotor and the distributor drive shaft. The inspector reported that the condition of the spark plugs was indicative of a lean fuel mixture/high temperature operation. The engine timing could not be determined.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Flight Instructor; Commercial
Age: 69, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Single-engine
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: None
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 11/02/2016
Flight Time: 946 hours (Total, all aircraft), 47 hours (Total, this make and model), 800 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Thompson
Registration: N335JT
Model/Series: Angel Hawk II
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2009
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 001
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 11/01/2016, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1200 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 47 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Thompson
ELT: Installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: VW Tape I
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 70 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: MNE, 278 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 19 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1335 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 240°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Calm /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction:
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 29.98 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 22°C / 16°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Homer, LA (5F4)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Homer, LA (5F4)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0827 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class E
Airport Information
Airport: Homer Municipal Airport (5F4)
Runway Surface Type: N/A
Airport Elevation: 244 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Unknown
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 32.789722, -93.006389 (est)
NTSB Identification: CEN17LA228
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, June 09, 2017 in Homer, LA
Aircraft: Thompson Angel Hawk II, registration: N335JT
Injuries: 1 Serious.
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 June 9, 2017, about 0830 central daylight time, an amateur built Angel Hawk II airplane, N335JT, collided with terrain during a forced landing near the Homer Municipal Airport (5F4), Homer, Louisiana. The pilot was seriously injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to a private individual and was being operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual flight rules conditions existed near the accident site at the time of the accident, and a flight plan had not been filed. The airplane departed 5F4 just before the accident. The intended destination is unknown.
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, June 09, 2017 in Homer, LA
Aircraft: Thompson Angel Hawk II, registration: N335JT
Injuries: 1 Serious.
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 June 9, 2017, about 0830 central daylight time, an amateur built Angel Hawk II airplane, N335JT, collided with terrain during a forced landing near the Homer Municipal Airport (5F4), Homer, Louisiana. The pilot was seriously injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to a private individual and was being operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual flight rules conditions existed near the accident site at the time of the accident, and a flight plan had not been filed. The airplane departed 5F4 just before the accident. The intended destination is unknown.
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