Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Loss of Engine Power (Total): Hawker FB60 Sea Fury, N254SF; accident occurred July 25, 2017 near Stephens County Airport (KBKD), Breckenridge, Texas

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Lubbock, Texas

Aviation Accident Final 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/N254SF

Location: Breckenridge, TX
Accident Number: CEN17LA285
Date & Time: 07/25/2017, 0910 CDT
Registration: N254SF
Aircraft: HILLARD CHARLIE R HAWKER FB60
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (total)
Injuries: 2 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Other Work Use 

Analysis 

A witness, who was a repair facility employee, stated that, on the morning of the accident, the airplane was fueled and then flown for about 15 to 20 minutes without incident. The accident flight was the second flight of the day and was also about 15 to 20 minutes long. The witness's cell phone video revealed that the airplane was on short final for the runway as it descended and turned left; it then disappeared into a wooded area. The airplane collided with a tree and then impacted the ground and came to rest upright. First responders to the accident site stated that the fuel lines had been severed, and fuel was covering the ground under the airplane.

The propeller blades did not exhibit signs of power during impact. Postaccident testing of the engine's distributors and fuel pump did not reveal any anomalies. However, postaccident testing of the injection carburetor revealed that the right float switch pin was dislodged from its cylinder, but it could not be determined when the pin became dislodged. The pin was reinstalled into its cylinder, and subsequent testing of the injection carburetor revealed that it was out of tolerance; however, the specialists at the repair station stated that, although several of the carburetor readings were out of tolerance, none of the indications would have caused a loss of engine power.

Postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The fuel selector was found positioned to the auxiliary fuel tank line, not the main fuel tank line. The valve was impact-separated from the airplane, and its preaccident position could not be confirmed. Based on the available evidence, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. 

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident engine examination and testing did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. 

Findings

Environmental issues
Tree(s) - Effect on operation

Not determined
Not determined - Unknown/Not determined (Cause)

Factual Information

History of Flight

Approach-VFR pattern final
Loss of engine power (total) (Defining event)
Off-field or emergency landing
Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) 

On July 25, 2017, about 0910 central daylight time, an experimental Hawker FB60 airplane, N254SF, experienced a loss of engine power and impacted trees and terrain near Stephens County Airport (BKD), Breckenridge, Texas. The private rated pilot and one passenger were seriously injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a maintenance test flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The local flight was on final approach to BKD when the accident occurred.

A review of a witness cell phone video revealed that the airplane was near the approach end of runway 17 as it descended and made a left turn, then disappeared into a wooded area.

The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector stated that the engine reportedly experienced a loss of power and the airplane descended into the trees and terrain. The pilot and passenger and were flown to a hospital for treatment.

The witness stated that the airplane was fueled on the morning of the accident and was flown for about 15 to 20 minutes without incident. The accident flight was the second flight of the day and also lasted about 15 to 20 minutes. During the flight she observed the landing gear extend when the airplane turned on final approach but she was unable to hear the engine. 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 74, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 5-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 2 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 02/22/2016
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: HILLARD CHARLIE R
Registration: N254SF
Model/Series: HAWKER FB60 NO SERIES
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1956
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 37514
Landing Gear Type: Retractable - Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 07/11/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection: 1.8 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 1294.3 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Curtiss Wright
ELT:
Engine Model/Series: R3350-36WD
Registered Owner: THIBODEAU JOE
Rated Power: 2800 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held:  None 

The airplane had been damaged in a previous ground event in 2016 and repairs were being completed by a repair facility at BKD. The facility had completed the repairs on July 11, 2017, and during a test flight the pilot noticed the flight controls were not rigged correctly for level flight. The flight control rigging was fixed and the pilot was completing another test flight when the accident occurred. The airplane had been flown for several hours during the week before the accident and no engine anomalies were reported.

An employee of the repair facility confirmed that the main fuel tanks were used for these types of short test flights as stated in their procedures. 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KBKD, 1283 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 0855 CDT
Direction from Accident Site: 184°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 10 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 200°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 30.08 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 28°C / 20°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Breckenridge, TX (BKD)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Breckenridge, TX (BKD)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0850 CDT
Type of Airspace: Class E 

Airport Information

Airport: STEPHENS COUNTY (BKD)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 1284 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Unknown
Runway Used: 17
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 4997 ft / 100 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop; Traffic Pattern 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 32.727222, -98.891111 (est) 

The airplane collided with a 20 ft tall tree about 1,000 ft north of the approach end of the runway. The airplane impacted the ground and came to rest upright about 150 ft from the initial tree strike. Figure 1 shows the empennage mostly separated from fuselage at the aft bulkhead. The left wing was separated and distorted aft. The right wing was crushed and distorted forward. The forward fuselage, engine cowling, and propeller shaft sustained impact damaged. The four propeller blades remained attached to the hub and did not exhibit leading edge damage or rotational scoring. First responders to the accident site stated that the fuel lines had been severed and fuel was covering the ground under the airplane.


Figure 1
Damaged Airplane

A postaccident examination of the engine was completed on October 16-17, 2017, under the auspices of an FAA inspector. Due to impact damage the engine could not be manually rotated through to confirm internal continuity. The engine was removed from the airframe and there were no obvious anomalies observed. The propeller, mixture, and throttle controls remained connected and moved normally when manually manipulated. Examination of the carburetor did not reveal any anomalies and the fuel screen was clean and free of contaminants. A few ounces of fuel remained in the fuel lines; the fuel appeared clean. The accessory drive shaft was removed and the blower was manually rotated; the accessory gears rotated with no anomalies noted. The two front distributors were removed and the gears remained connected to the front cam drive. The outlet oil screen was removed and disassembled and there was no metal or debris observed. The front and rear oil sump plugs and screens were also free of metal and debris. The engine examination did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

The fuel valve was impact separated from the airplane and damaged. During the postaccident examination, air was blown through the fuel valve and determined it was positioned to an auxiliary fuel tank line. 

Tests And Research

On November 9, 2017, postaccident testing of the distributors, fuel pump, and injection carburetor was completed at an FAA authorized repair station under the auspices of an FAA inspector. The two distributors and the fuel pump were run on their respective test stands and all successfully passed the testing requirements. The injection carburetor was tested on a Stromberg Aircraft Carburetor Flow Bench. The initial flow test failed and bypassed significant amounts of fuel from the vapor vent port. To troubleshoot the issue, the carburetor's cover was removed which revealed the right float switch pin was dislodged from its cylinder. The right float pin was reinstalled into its cylinder and subsequent testing of the injection carburetor was out of tolerance, including flow tests, automatic mixture control, bleed checks, and air circuit tests.

NTSB Identification: CEN17LA285 
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, July 25, 2017 in Breckenridge, TX
Aircraft: HILLARD CHARLIE R HAWKER FB60, registration: N254SF
Injuries: 2 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 July 25, 2017, about 0900 central daylight time, an experimental Hawker FB60 airplane, N254SF, experienced a loss of engine power and impacted trees and terrain near Stephens County Airport (BKD), Breckenridge, Texas. The private pilot and one passenger were seriously injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan had been filed. 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that the airplane was on short final for runway 17 when the engine experienced a loss of power and the airplane descended into the trees and terrain. The pilot and passenger and were flown to a hospital for treatment. 

A cell phone video of the accident flight was obtained. A review of the video revealed the airplane was near the approach end of runway 17 as it descended and made a left turn, then disappeared into the tree line. 

The airplane has been retained for further examination.
Figure 1
Damaged Airplane

A postaccident examination of the engine was completed on October 16-17, 2017, under the auspices of an FAA inspector. Due to impact damage the engine could not be manually rotated through to confirm internal continuity. The engine was removed from the airframe and there were no obvious anomalies observed. The propeller, mixture, and throttle controls remained connected and moved normally when manually manipulated. Examination of the carburetor did not reveal any anomalies and the fuel screen was clean and free of contaminants. A few ounces of fuel remained in the fuel lines; the fuel appeared clean. The accessory drive shaft was removed and the blower was manually rotated; the accessory gears rotated with no anomalies noted. The two front distributors were removed and the gears remained connected to the front cam drive. The outlet oil screen was removed and disassembled and there was no metal or debris observed. The front and rear oil sump plugs and screens were also free of metal and debris. The engine examination did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

The fuel valve was impact separated from the airplane and damaged. During the postaccident examination, air was blown through the fuel valve and determined it was positioned to an auxiliary fuel tank line. 

Tests And Research

On November 9, 2017, postaccident testing of the distributors, fuel pump, and injection carburetor was completed at an FAA authorized repair station under the auspices of an FAA inspector. The two distributors and the fuel pump were run on their respective test stands and all successfully passed the testing requirements. The injection carburetor was tested on a Stromberg Aircraft Carburetor Flow Bench. The initial flow test failed and bypassed significant amounts of fuel from the vapor vent port. To troubleshoot the issue, the carburetor's cover was removed which revealed the right float switch pin was dislodged from its cylinder. The right float pin was reinstalled into its cylinder and subsequent testing of the injection carburetor was out of tolerance, including flow tests, automatic mixture control, bleed checks, and air circuit tests.

NTSB Identification: CEN17LA285 
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, July 25, 2017 in Breckenridge, TX
Aircraft: HILLARD CHARLIE R HAWKER FB60, registration: N254SF
Injuries: 2 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 July 25, 2017, about 0900 central daylight time, an experimental Hawker FB60 airplane, N254SF, experienced a loss of engine power and impacted trees and terrain near Stephens County Airport (BKD), Breckenridge, Texas. The private pilot and one passenger were seriously injured and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan had been filed. 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that the airplane was on short final for runway 17 when the engine experienced a loss of power and the airplane descended into the trees and terrain. The pilot and passenger and were flown to a hospital for treatment. 

A cell phone video of the accident flight was obtained. A review of the video revealed the airplane was near the approach end of runway 17 as it descended and made a left turn, then disappeared into the tree line. 

The airplane has been retained for further examination.



Chad and Anna Ezell, son and daughter of Ezell Aviation Founder Nelson Ezell continue running their father’s business while he continues to recover from a plane crash in July.

Nelson Ezell’s prominence in Breckenridge had never been higher after re-launching the once famed Breckenridge Air Show, along with efforts from the Breckenridge Chamber of Commerce, which added to the shock when his World War II-era CSEA Seafury British Hawker crashed on private property near Hwy. 183 before reaching the Ezell Aviation runway.

While speaking with the Breckenridge American, Chad Ezell thanked the staff of Ezell Aviation for stepping up in Nelson Ezell’s absence and doing whatever is asked of them.

“Their commitment to whatever was needed has been so appreciated by the Ezell family,” Chad Ezell said.

While piloting the experimental World War II-era airplane in July, an engine malfunction downed the Warbird and resulted in injuries to Ezell and his passenger Dustin Mayfield. Mayfield walked away with a broken arm, but Ezell’s injuries were significant. He remained in ICU Trauma Unit at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth for 10 days, where the doctors operated on his severely injured arm, when he was stable enough to manage it. 

Ezell was later moved to another trauma recovery site, where he has remained the past nine weeks. At this point, the Ezell family anticipates Nelson being moved to another recovery hospital that is more equipped to handle the next stage of his recovery now that he is breathing on his own and his severely bruised lungs have had a chance to heal.

The Ezell family is so thankful and appreciative of all the prayers on their behalf and expressed the need for those thoughts and prayers to continue while Nelson continues his long recovery and meets each new challenge in that recovery. Chad and Anna expressed their deep appreciation for the community of Breckenridge and that they are part of such a caring community. 

Ezell is still not ready for visitors, but both Nelson and his wife Helen “Dude” Ezell appreciate the concern that has been conveyed to them through their children, other family members and close friends.

“They have all felt the concern and thoughtful prayers that have been lifted on behalf of their parents as Nelson continues to meet the new challenges in his recovery,” Chad Ezell said.


https://www.breckenridgeamerican.com





Two men were injured Tuesday morning when a Hawker FB60 Sea Fury plane crashed in a pasture near the Stephens County Airport.

The crash of a Hawker Sea Fury was reported around 9:15 a.m. It landed in a pasture north of the airport and south of FM 2231, land owned by Brad Whitaker.

The plane’s occupants, Nelson Ezell and Dustin Mayfield, were taken by helicopter ambulance to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth. 

Ezell sustained serious but not critical injuries, while Mayfield’s injuries were less serious, according to the men’s wives.

The plane is badly damaged, according to those allowed near the remote crash site, which is being kept secure until the Federal Aviation Administration arrives to investigate.

https://www.breckenridgeamerican.com




BRECKENRIDGE, Texas - The pilot of a Hawker FB60 Sea Fury plane that crashed Monday at Stephens County Airport has “critical injuries” and has been flown to a hospital in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

The Federal Aviation Administration identified the pilot as being Nelson Ezell.

A passenger in the two-seat plane escaped unscathed, the Federal Aviation Administration said, but was taken by helicopter to the same hospital. He is listed in stable condition.

The accident, which occurred about 9:15 a.m.

The Hawker FB60 Sea Fury, according to the Federal Aviation Administration, lost engine power, landed short of the runway and its fuselage broke apart on impact.

It was doing what authorities said was "touch-and-go pattern work" before the accident.

http://www.ktxs.com




STEPHENS COUNTY, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) - Two people were injured when a small plane crash-landed in Breckenridge Tuesday morning. 

Stephens County Sheriff Will Holt told KTAB and KRBC a Hawker FB60 Sea Fury plane manned by Ezell Aviation was out for a test run when it experienced total engine failure around 9:15 a.m., causing it to crash land just north of BASA Resources off of FM 2231.

Medical helicopters rushed to the scene and transported two people from the crash site, according to Sheriff Holt, who says one person is in stable condition, and the other person's condition is not known. 

The identities of the people involved in the crash have not been released. No other injuries have been reported.

Sheriff Holt says Federal Aviation Administration officials are en route from Lubbock to evaluate the crash site in order to make an official report. 

http://www.bigcountryhomepage.com




Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Denver, Colorado

Left main gear collapsed on landing.

Date: 30-DEC-16
Time: 22:55:00Z
Regis#: 254SF
Aircraft Make: HAWKER
Aircraft Model: FB111
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: UNKNOWN
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: UNKNOWN
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: ENGLEWOOD
State: COLORADO

Aircraft experience left main gear collapsed during landing.

Date: 30-DEC-16
Time: 22:53:00Z
Regis#: N254SF
Aircraft Make: RAYTHEON
Aircraft Model: HAWKER
Event Type: INCIDENT
Highest Injury: NONE
Aircraft Missing: No
Damage: MINOR
Activity: PERSONAL
Flight Phase: LANDING (LDG)
Operation: 91
City: DENVER
State: COLORADO


CENTENNIAL, Colo. -- The pilot of a World War II-era aircraft walked away unscathed after making an emergency landing at Centennial Airport Friday.

The single-engine aircraft’s main landing gear collapsed after landing. A picture of the Hawker FB10 Sea Fury shows the aircraft leaning on its wing. The landing also damaged to the plane’s propeller.

The pilot was the only person on board the plane. The plane’s flight path was not released.

The Hawker FB10 Sea Fury entered service two years after World War II.

Source:  http://www.thedenverchannel.com

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