Thursday, March 21, 2019

Loss of Engine Power (Total): Air Creation Tanarg, N912TJ; accident occurred March 20, 2019 in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii







Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Honolulu, Hawaii

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:


Location: Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 
Accident Number: GAA19CA181
Date & Time: March 20, 2019, 10:00 Local
Registration: N912TJ
Aircraft: Air Creation TANARG 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (total)
Injuries: 2 Minor
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Analysis

The pilot of the weight-shift-control aircraft reported that he departed with 6 gallons of fuel onboard the airplane and that he estimated that the fuel burn was 3 gallons per hour. He added that, during the flight, he performed multiple climbs and descents, and he believed the aircraft burned more fuel than usual. He added that, about 1 hour 15 minutes into the flight, the engine lost power. He restarted the engine momentarily, but it then lost power again. He attempted to restart the engine multiple times to no avail. During the forced landing, he attempted to land the aircraft on a field, but it impacted terrain about 15 yards short of the intended landing site.

The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the fuselage.

The pilot added that, after visiting the hospital, he went back to look at the aircraft and did not see any fuel in the fuel tank.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft that would have precluded normal operation.

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's improper preflight fuel planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

Findings

Aircraft Fuel - Fluid level
Personnel issues Fuel planning - Pilot

Factual Information

History of Flight

Prior to flight Miscellaneous/other
Maneuvering Fuel exhaustion
Maneuvering Loss of engine power (total) (Defining event)
Maneuvering Attempted remediation/recovery
Landing Off-field or emergency landing
Landing Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT)

Pilot Information

Certificate: Flight Instructor; Sport Pilot
Age: 45, Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: Lap Only
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Sport Pilot
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Sport Pilot
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 03/16/2018
Flight Time:   (Estimated) 533 hours (Total, all aircraft), 420 hours (Total, this make and model), 475 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 30 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 10 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: AIR CREATION
Registration: N912TJ
Model/Series: TANARG
Aircraft Category: Weight-Shift
Year of Manufacture: 2006
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental Light Sport
Serial Number: T06113
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 04/21/2018, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 992 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 818 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Rotax
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: 912UL
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 80 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: PHKO, 43 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 5 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1953 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 214°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 6500 ft agl
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 8 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 250°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.06 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 25°C / 17°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Kailua/Kona, HI (KOA)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Kailua/Kona, HI (KOA)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0845 HDT
Type of Airspace: Class G

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 19.808056, -155.998333 (est)




KAILUA-KONA — One man was hospitalized Wednesday after the Air Creation Tanarg he was flying off the Kona Coast lost power and crashed at Kukio.


National Transportation Safety Board investigators are expected to arrive on the Big Island today to investigate the incident first reported at 9:56 a.m. Wednesday.


The Air Creation Tanarg carrying two men apparently lost power at about 3,000 feet and tried to glide into a grassy field near Kukio, the luxury development located north of Kailua-Kona, according to Hawaii Fire Department West Hawaii Battalion Chief Bill Bergin.


“And, it just didn’t quite make it. Instead, it caught trees and tumbled in lava and ended up on top of a propane tank,” said Bergin, adding the tank was located near the Kukio Sports Complex within the Maniniowali neighborhood of Kukio.


Ian Gregor, communications manager with the FAA’s Pacific Division, said preliminary data indicates the aircraft lost engine power shortly before 10 a.m. in the Kukio area, about 6-7 miles north of Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole.


The Air Creation Tanarg had departed from the airport not long before.


The pilot, who was identified only as a man, suffered a broken nose and facial lacerations in the crash, according to Bergin. The passenger, who was identified as a man visiting from Washington, refused medical treatment at the scene.


Medics transported the pilot to North Hawaii Community Hospital for care. No additional information on his condition was immediately available.


Though the plane landed on a 1,100-gallon propane tank, no leaks are believed to have occurred. But out of concern for safety, Bergin said fire rescue personnel quickly shut down the tank until a gas utility could arrive and assess it, and make any repairs, if needed.


After getting clearance from the NTSB, fire rescue personnel removed the plane from the propane tank. Kukio was to secure the plane until NTSB investigators arrive today.


Original article ➤ https://www.westhawaiitoday.com 


The pilot of an experimental aircraft told witnesses his engine failed at around 3,000 feet, causing him to crash onto a rocky lava field about 6 miles north of the Kona airport Wednesday morning, a Hawaii County fire official said.

West Hawaii Battalion Chief William Bergin said the pilot was attempting to glide onto a grassy field at the Kukio Golf and Beach Club, but landed 25 feet short.

The pilot suffered injuries and was transported by Medic 14 in stable condition to the North Hawaii Community Hospital, Bergin said.

His passenger, a visitor from Washington state, experienced dizziness, but refused treatment by medics, and returned by private vehicle to the Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport, which is where the plane initially took off.

The Air Creation Tanarg ultralight plane is owned by Jeffery Hoff of Honokaa, according to Federal Aviation Administration records.

Kona Coast by Air is the company that operates the plane, and the pilot is not the owner of the company, Bergin said.

The motorized aircraft, with tail number N-912TJ, landed upside down, against a 1,100-gallon propane tank that services a kitchen used by the Kukio resort’s athletic club, Bergin said, adding that some gas lines were damaged.

The FAA and National Transportation Safety Board officials will arrive March 27 to investigate the crash, Bergin said.

Original article ➤ https://www.staradvertiser.com

1 comment:

  1. Can you spell “boondoggle”. When the FAA and NTSB don’t respond to each accident in person for more serious incidents, both agencies are going to this one. Could it be? Hawaii

    ReplyDelete