Friday, July 13, 2018

Loss of Control in Flight: Rose Parrakeet A-1, N14842; fatal accident occurred July 12, 2018 near Fairview Airport (7TS0), Wise County, Texas

Accident Site 

Photo of Fuel Selector and Fitting


The National Transportation Safety Board traveled to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Irving, Texas
Continental Motors; Mobile, Alabama 

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/N14842

Location: Rhome, TX
Accident Number: CEN18FA265
Date & Time: 07/12/2018, 1330 CDT
Registration: N14842
Aircraft: ROSE PARRAKEET A-1
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On July 12, 2018, about 1330 central daylight time, an experimental Rose Parrakeet A-1 airplane, N14842, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Fairview Airport (7TS0), Rhome, Texas. The private pilot sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

Two witnesses who were driving on Highway 407 just north of the airport and south of the accident site observed a small airplane that had departed from the airport and was flying "very low" (about 100 ft) over the highway. The witnesses stated that, as the airplane flew north, it was not climbing but was instead flying "flat." The witnesses added that, as airplane flew north past the highway, it banked "hard" to the right and "nose-dived" into terrain.

Another witness stated that he was about 0.5 mile west of the airport when he saw a small airplane taking off from the airport that seemed to be struggling to gain altitude. The witness indicated that the airplane's nose seemed to be "considerably higher" than the tail, and he and his wife could not hear the engine because they were in their pickup truck. The witness also stated that the airplane, as it cleared the runway and crossed the highway, started to bank or roll and then took a "sharp nosedive." The airplane wreckage was subsequently located in a field about 0.3 mile south of the airport.

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 85, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Single
Other Aircraft Rating(s):None 
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: Yes
Medical Certification:  Class 3 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 06/02/2015
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 
Flight Time:  5200 hours (Total, all aircraft), 50 hours (Total, this make and model) 

The pilot's next-door neighbor and friend (who was also a pilot) reported that the accident pilot flew the accident airplane about once per week.

No pilot records were received, and the pilot's recency of flight experience could not be established.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: ROSE
Registration: N14842
Model/Series: PARRAKEET A-1
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1936
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 102
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 1
Date/Type of Last Inspection: Unknown
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: Continental
ELT: C91 installed
Engine Model/Series: C85-8FJ
Registered Owner: Pilot
Rated Power: 85 hp
Operator: Pilot
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

According to the pilot's neighbor/friend, the pilot had owned the airplane for about 10 years and performed the maintenance on the airplane. No airplane maintenance records, including the airframe and engine hours, were available for the airplane. 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: AFW, 723 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 9 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1253 CDT
Direction from Accident Site: 116°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 5000 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 16000 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 6 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None /
Wind Direction: Variable
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.05 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 34°C / 19°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Rhome, TX (7TS0)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination:
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time:  CDT
Type of Airspace: Class G 

Airport Information

Airport: Fairview Airport (7TS0)
Runway Surface Type: Grass/turf
Airport Elevation: 915 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Soft; Vegetation
Runway Used: 35
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 2861 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 33.100556, -97.426389 (est) 

The airplane was in a field about 0.3 miles south of the airport and oriented tail to nose on a heading of about 270°. Ground scarring was limited to the planform area of the airplane, and the airframe crush angle was consistent with a nose-low impact attitude. The front of the fuselage (engine compartment) was crushed aft, and the firewall was separated. The fixed landing gear was folded under the fuselage. The cabin section was crushed aft, and the pilot seat was still attached to its mounts. The leading edges of the left and right wings were crushed aft. The empennage was mostly intact and slightly buckled. The airplane showed no evidence of fire or soot.

The instrument panel and cockpit were damaged by impact. The cockpit throttle control was retarded about 1 inch, the primer was in its locked position, the altimeter displayed 920 ft, the altimeter setting was 30.14 inches of mercury, and the tachometer indicated 2.34 hours.

Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit to all flight control surfaces. Impact damage was noted to the flight control cables located under the pilot seat.

The main fuel tank and header tank were attached to the airframe but were breached. The fuel gascolator bowl was found separated from its mount. A small amount of fuel was present in the main fuel tank primer line. Fuel lines were broken open due to impact. The "FUEL SELECT" valve was in the "OFF" position. The area around the fuel valve was damaged by impact. The fuel line leading from fuel selector valve to the engine had a flareless fitting, and the nut of the fitting was loose and could be turned using hand pressure. The threaded portion of the fitting body had white-colored tape around its threads. The fuel system vent hoses and lines were unobstructed.

Engine control continuity was established from the cockpit to the carburetor. The engine was separated at the engine mounts, and the engine had impact damage around the No. 1 cylinder. The bottom of the case had a small hole that resulted from impact damage. Engine valve and drive train continuity to the accessory section was confirmed when the engine was manually rotated. The magnetos were in the "BOTH" position (before first responders moved them to the "OFF" position).

One of the two propeller blades was relatively straight, and the other propeller blade was bent rearward and twisted. The propeller hub displayed inward crushing. The propeller showed no evidence of rotation at the time of impact.

The examination of the airframe and engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Medical And Pathological Information

An autopsy of the pilot, conducted by The Office of the Medical Examiner, Dallas County, Texas, on July 13, 2018, stated that the pilot. His cause of death was blunt force injuries and the manner of death was accident.


Toxicology testing performed at the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory detected no carbon monoxide, ethanol, or drugs in the pilot's blood specimens.

Location: Rhome, TX
Accident Number: CEN18FA265
Date & Time: 07/12/2018, 1330 CDT
Registration: N14842
Aircraft: ROSE PARRAKEET A-1
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under:  Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On July 12, 2018, about 1330 central daylight time, an experimental Rose Parrakeet A-1 airplane, N14842, impacted terrain after takeoff from runway 35 at Fairview Airport (7TS0), Rhome, Texas. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of the Code of Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight that was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated about 1328 from 7TS0.

Witnesses stated that the airplane was about 100-200 feet above ground level, flying towards the north, when it banked "hard right" towards the east and "nose-dived" into terrain after takeoff. The wreckage was located about 0.4 nautical miles south of the airport. Ground scarring was limited to the area of the wreckage, which exhibited a nose-low impact attitude.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: ROSE
Registration: N14842
Model/Series: PARRAKEET A-1
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:  No
Operator: Pilot
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: AFW, 723 ft msl
Observation Time: 1253 CDT
Distance from Accident Site: 9 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 34°C / 19°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 5000 ft agl
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 6 knots / , Variable
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 16000 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.05 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Rhome, TX (7TS0)
Destination: 

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude:






An 86-year-old man died Thursday when his single-engine biplane crashed in a field in Wise County.

The crash was reported to have taken place in a field along Farm-to-Market Road 407, about four miles northeast of Rhome.

Officials with the Texas Department of Public Safety said the aircraft was a 1936 Rose Parrakeet A-1.

The identity of the pilot, who was the only occupant onboard at the time of the crash, has been confirmed to be Dominick Pellegreno, the owner of the plane.

Pellegreno crashed not far from Fairview Airport, a private, turf airstrip. The site is about 25 miles northwest of Fort Worth along U.S. Highway 287.

It is not known what caused the crash. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will investigate the crash.

Story and video ➤ https://www.nbcdfw.com






WISE COUNTY, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) – A small plane went down in a field not far from an airstrip in Wise County in New Fairview around 1:30 p.m. Thursday, killing the pilot according to DPS.

The aircraft went down in the area of FM 407 and Graham Road near the airstrip off Dillavou Lane.

The victim was an 86-year-old man.

The Federal Aviation Administration described the plane as a single-seat 1936 Rose Parakeet A-1 biplane.

It’s not clear what caused the plane to go down.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have been notified and will be conducting an investigation into the crash.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it will be in charge of the investigation.

New Fairview is about 30 miles northwest of Fort Worth.

Story and video ➤ https://dfw.cbslocal.com

10 comments:

  1. 86 years old is pushing it for sure......

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    Replies
    1. I knew don very well. He was our neighbor forany years. He was a sound pilot the problem is he was so curious and excited about this rare plane he wanted to fly it. We all knew he would sir thos way. His wife Anne still loves there. Both were absolute excellent pilots. They used to take all of us kids up flying. He was a jokester. Lovely couple

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  2. Husband to Ann Pellegrino who duplicated Amelia Earhart's flight 50 years ago. When flying has been in your blood that long I am sure it is hard to say "enough is enough". Sad.

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  3. Age doesn't look to be a factor. It appears that the engine may have quit from looking at the prop. The blade it bent at the hub, if it was under power then the tips would be curled. I have known some great pilots who flew into their late 80's who were still very sharp.

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  4. Looks initially to be a survivable event ....

    The only issue with age is that it takes less and less of a health issue to become more of a major problem with health the older people are ...

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  5. The field itself certainly “looks” plenty serviceable as an emergency landing field that if the problem was only a loss of power, he should have been able to put it down with far less damage than this. I’m in the medical issue camp on this one also. Fwiw.

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  6. Looks like a stall/spin accident to me. There are no tire tracks thru the grass like you see from the emergency vehicles and the leading edges of the wings are crushed p and aft.

    As mentioned the prop doesn't show any signs of rotation or being under power.

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  7. Hi all whom have posted - I am the Great-Niece of the pilot who perished in this accident. It was not because of age or health reasons, I can tell you that. He was still quick as a whip and on point with his flying. This accident had to do with the plane itself. Thank you all for your assumptions and concerns. - Rita

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Rita, condolences for your loss. Based on the noted position of the fuel valve, was the accident assessed as fuel starvation? Did he perhaps takeoff with the selector valve off?

      Delete
  8. He was a lifelong pilot who had flown many types of airplanes and pilots have to have medical certificates to fly. He was also the owner of antique aircraft. I know several pilots in their 80s and one early astronaut still flying in his 90s.



    ReplyDelete