Sunday, November 04, 2018

Titan Tornado 1, N38FD: Fatal accident occurred November 04, 2018 near Louisa County Airport / Freeman Field (KLKU), Virginia

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

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Richmond, Virginia

Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

https://registry.faa.gov/N38FD 

Location: Louisa, VA
Accident Number: ERA19FA036
Date & Time: 11/04/2018, 1500 EST
Registration: N38FD
Aircraft: Titan TORNADO 1
Injuries: 1 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On November 4, 2018, about 1500 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built Titan Tornado 1, N38FD, was substantially damaged when it impacted a field during approach to Louisa County Airport (LKU), Louisa, Virginia. The sport pilot was fatally injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that departure LKU about 1415.

According to the airport manager at LKU, he had just landed his airplane about 1415 when the accident airplane departed. The accident airplane subsequently impacted a field adjacent to a solar farm about 1500. The solar farm was located about 1 mile northeast of LKU. The airport manager added that the solar farm was a common visual checkpoint for pilots planning a visual approach to runway 9, which was the runway in use at the time. Pilots would fly from the solar farm over the center of the airport about 2,000 feet mean sea level and then make a right descending turn to join the midfield right downwind leg of the airport traffic pattern.

The airplane came to rest on its right side and no debris path was observed. The wing separated from the airframe and more leading edge damage was noted on the right side of the wing. The flaps and ailerons remained attached to the wing and the flaps were in the retracted position. All major components of the airplane were accounted for and it was oriented about a magnetic heading of 220°. The empennage remained intact and undamaged. The elevator, elevator trim tab, and rudder remained attached. Control continuity was confirmed from all control surfaces to the cockpit area. The cockpit was crushed, but the pilot's four-point harness remained intact and was cut by rescue personnel.

A single 15-gallon fuel tank was located behind the pilot seat and a strong odor of fuel was present at the accident site. The engine appeared undamaged and fuel was recovered from the fuel filter and both carburetors. The fuel was blue, clear and consistent in color and odor to automobile gasoline with 1% blue two-cycle aviation oil mixed in. When the propeller was rotated by hand, camshaft, crankshaft, valve train, and compression were confirmed.

The pilot held a sport pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. His most recent Federal Aviation Administration third-class medical certificate was issued on January 7, 2007 and he was not required to have a current medical certificate to operate as a sport pilot. Review of the pilot's logbook revealed that he had accrued a total flight experience of 636 hours; of which, about 48 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. The pilot had flown approximately 6 hours during the 90-day period preceding the accident and all of those hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane.

The single-seat, high-wing, fixed tricycle-gear airplane, was assembled from a kit in 2016. It was powered by a Rotax 503, 52-hp engine, equipped with a ground adjustable, two-blade Ivoprop propeller. Review of the maintenance records revealed that the airplane's most recent condition inspection was completed on March 6, 2018. At that time, the airplane and engine had been operated 244 hours since new. The airplane flew an additional 21 hours, from the time of the last inspection, until the accident.

The engine was retained for further examination and a possible test-run. A handheld Garmin 295 GPS was retained and forwarded to the National Transportation Safety Board Vehicle Recorders Laboratory, Washington, DC.

The recorded weather at LKU, at 1455, was: wind from 120° at 7 knots; visibility 10 miles; scattered clouds at 4,800 ft; temperature 14° C; dew point 3° C, altimeter 30.44 in of mercury. 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Titan
Registration: N38FD
Model/Series: TORNADO 1
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: Yes
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: KLKU, 479 ft msl
Observation Time: 1455 EST
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 14°C / 3°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Scattered / 4800 ft agl
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 7 knots / , 120°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility:  10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.44 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Louisa, VA (LKU)
Destination: Louisa, VA (LKU)

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Fatal
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Fatal
Latitude, Longitude: 38.024444, -77.960556

Those who may have information that might be relevant to the National Transportation Safety Board investigation may contact them by email eyewitnessreport@ntsb.gov, and any friends and family who want to contact investigators about the accident should email assistance@ntsb.gov.



LOUISA, VA (WWBT) - On Sunday afternoon, Virginia State Police responded to the scene of a reported plane crash in Louisa County.

The experimental airplane took off from the Louisa County Airport and later crashed clearing on a private property located in the 400 block of Chalk Level Road.

The pilot of the small, private airplane, Timothy M. Henson, 70, of Palmyra, VA, did not survive the crash.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have been notified.

The crash remains under investigation at this time.

Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.nbc12.com



LOUISA COUNTY, Virginia – One person is dead after a small plane crash in Louisa County Sunday afternoon.

Virginia State Police responded to crash in a small solar and cattle farm near the 400 block of Chalk Level Road at approximately 3:05 p.m.

The pilot of the small plane was killed during the crash, according to State Police. Officials are still in the process of confirming the pilot’s identity.

State Police, who are investigating the incident, said the crash occurred on private property in the county. That property is located two miles away from Freeman Field, the Louisa County Airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have been notified, according to Virginia State Police.

Officials described the aircraft as a small, private airplane.

The crash remains under investigation.

Original article can be found here ➤ https://wtvr.com



LOUISA COUNTY, Virginia (WRIC) -- A pilot is dead after a small plane crash in Louisa County. 

According to authorities, the crash happened shortly after 3 p.m. in the 400 block of Chalk Level Road. 

Louisa County Police and Fire personnel were called to the scene in addition to State Police. 

The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board have been notified but have not yet arrived at the scene.

Original article can be found here ➤ https://www.wric.com

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