Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Columbia, South Carolina
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
http://registry.faa.gov/N65SW
Location: Darlington, SC
Accident Number: ERA17LA334
Date & Time: 09/24/2017, 1410 EDT
Registration: N65SW
Aircraft: MCMILLAN JOEL L AVID SW 65
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fuel contamination
Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On September 24, 2017, about 1410 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Avid SW 65, N65SW, operated by the private pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, following a total loss of engine power during initial climb from a private airstrip near Darlington, South Carolina. The private pilot was seriously injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that originated from Lumberton Regional Airport (LBT), Lumberton, North Carolina, about 1315.
The pilot reported that he had planned on landing at an approximate 700-foot turf runway used by a radio-controlled airplane club. In preparation for the landing, he performed a low-pass to examine the runway condition and check for any obstacles. Following the low pass, he initiated a left climbing turn, during which the engine lost all power. The pilot switched fuel tanks, but the engine did not regain power. The pilot then intentionally slowed and stalled the airplane just above trees and it collided with the trees and ground, coming to rest inverted. The pilot further stated that the fuel tanks were constructed of fiberglass and he used automotive gasoline in the airplane.
Initial examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right wing had separated during impact and fuel had leaked from the right wing into the ground. The left wing remained attached to the fuselage and both were also substantially damaged. Subsequent examination of the wreckage by the pilot revealed that the fuel filter was clogged with dirt and fiberglass.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 63, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Unknown
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Unknown
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Sport Pilot
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 5000 hours (Total, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: MCMILLAN JOEL L
Registration: N65SW
Model/Series: AVID SW 65 NO SERIES
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1990
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 367
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: Unknown
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1151 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: Rotax
ELT:
Engine Model/Series: 532
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 65 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: UDG, 192 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 3 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1456 EDT
Direction from Accident Site: 45°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 5000 ft agl
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 8 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Wind Direction: 50°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.01 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 29°C / 20°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Lumberton, NC (LBT)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Darlington, SC (PVT)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1315 EDT
Type of Airspace:
Airport Information
Airport: NONE (PVT)
Runway Surface Type: Grass/turf
Airport Elevation: 178 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 30
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 700 ft / 100 ft
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: 34.417500, -79.931389 (est)
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, September 24, 2017 in Darlington, SC
Aircraft: MCMILLAN JOEL L AVID SW 65, registration: N65SW
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 September 24, 2017, about 1410 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Avid SW 65, N65SW, operated by the private pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, following a total loss of engine power during initial climb from a private airstrip near Darlington, South Carolina. The private pilot was seriously injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight that originated from Lumberton Regional Airport (LBT), Lumberton, North Carolina.
The pilot reported that he had planned on landing at an approximate 700-foot turf runway used by a radio-controlled airplane club. In preparation for the landing, he performed a low-pass to examine the runway condition and check for any obstacles. Following the low pass, he initiated a left climbing turn, during which the engine lost all power. The pilot switched fuel tanks, but the engine did not regain power. The pilot then intentionally slowed and stalled the airplane just above trees and it collided with the trees and ground, coming to rest inverted. The pilot further stated that the fuel tanks were constructed of fiberglass and he used automotive gasoline in the airplane.
Initial examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the right wing had separated during impact and fuel had leaked from the right wing into the ground. The left wing remained attached to the fuselage and both were also substantially damaged. Subsequent examination of the wreckage by the pilot revealed that the fuel filter was clogged with dirt and fiberglass.
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