Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Burlington, Massachusetts
Aviation Accident Preliminary Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
https://registry.faa.gov/N269PW
Accident Number: ERA19LA214
Date & Time: 07/03/2019, 2000 EDT
Registration: N269PW
Aircraft: Pipistrel SINUS
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On July 3, 2019, about 2000 eastern daylight time, a Pipistrel Sinus, N269PW, was substantially damaged during a forced landing while approaching Lawrence Municipal Airport (LWM) Lawrence, Massachusetts. The private pilot/registered owner was not injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that departed about 1900.
The pilot reported that he flew to the coast after departure from LWM at an altitude of 3,500 ft mean sea level (msl). As he got over the spot where he normally conducts his soaring, he turned off the engine power and soared for a few minutes as he was looking for thermals. Finding none, and with little westerly wind, he elected to head back to LWM as his altitude descended through 2,500 ft msl. During his attempted engine restart, the engine seemed "sluggish" and he was not getting the normal performance out of the engine. The pilot attempted to troubleshoot the problem but was unable to achieve normal power. He lined up for runway 23 as he was approaching from the east. About 1-1/2 miles from the approach end of the runway, the glider struck a fence on a hilltop at an elevation of about 300 ft and skidded to a stop next to the LMW VOR
Examination of the glider by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed to the landing gear, the lower portion of the fuselage, and the left wing.
The pilot, age 82, held a private pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land, instrument airplane, and glider. The pilot reported 1,600 hours of civilian flight experience, of which 215 hours were in the accident airplane make and model.
According to FAA airworthiness records, the glider was issued a special light sport airworthiness certificate on June 11, 2013. It was a composite, two-place, cantilever high-wing, powered glider, that was equipped with tricycle landing gear, and a Rotax 912-UL, 80-horsepower engine driving a two-blade constant speed propeller.
The weather conditions reported at LWM at 1954, included variable winds at 3 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, a clear sky, temperature 27° C, dew point 17° C, and an altimeter setting of 29.89 inches of mercury.
The glider was retained for additional examination.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Pipistrel
Registration: N269PW
Model/Series: SINUS No Series
Aircraft Category: Glider
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Dusk
Observation Facility, Elevation: LWM, 147 ft msl
Observation Time: 1954 EDT
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 27°C / 17°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: Light and Variable / , Variable
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.89 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Haverhill, MA (LWM)
Destination: Haverhill, MA (LWM)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 42.740833, -71.095000
LAWRENCE, Massachusetts (WHDH) - A small aircraft made a forced landing in Lawrence Wednesday, leaving the pilot of the craft injured.
A Pipistrel Sinus came down in a field about a mile and a half north of the Lawrence Municipal Airport around 8:30 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
The pilot was the only person on board the single-engine glider.
Haverhill firefighters say that person suffered minor injuries.
The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation to determine why the Pipistrel Sinus came down.
Original article can be found here ➤ https://whdh.com
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