Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Loss of Control on Ground: Lake LA-4-200 Buccaneer, N6672L; accident occurred September 03, 2019 at Girdwood Airport (AQY), Alaska

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity: 

Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Anchorage, Alaska

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


Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
 
https://registry.faa.gov/N6672L


Location:Girdwood, AK 
Accident Number: ANC19LA051
Date & Time: 09/03/2019, 1315 AKD
Registration: N6672L
Aircraft: Lake LA-4-200
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control on ground
Injuries:1 None 
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

On September 3, 2019, about 1315 Alaska daylight time, an amphibious Lake LA-4-200 airplane, N6672L, sustained substantial damage following a runway excursion at the Girdwood Airport (AQY), Girdwood, Alaska. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, a private individual, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed Merrill Field (MRI), Anchorage, Alaska at 1230 destined for AQY.

According to the pilot, after departing PAMR the landing gear and flaps failed to retract, so he verified that the hydraulic pump circuit breaker had not opened and noted that the hydraulic pressure gauge indicated zero. He utilized the emergency hydraulic hand pump and was able to successfully retract both the landing gear and wing flaps. Upon arrival at AQY, the hand pump was once again utilized to extend both the landing gear and wing flaps. After touchdown, in an effort to slow and steer the airplane, the wheel brakes were applied but did not work properly. The airplane exited the runway, proceeded down an embankment and came to rest on its left wing and hull, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage.

According to the Lake LA-4 Owner's Manual, the airplane is equipped with a castering nose wheel, which requires differential braking for directional control. The hydraulic system is used to operate the landing gear, flaps, and longitudinal trim, and is composed of an integral pump and electric motor, pressure limit switch, accumulator, and reservoir, interconnected by necessary piping, check valves, and restrictors. The brake system is independent of the hydraulic system.

An examination of the brake and primary flight control systems revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

The closest official weather observation station to the accident site was Portage Glacier (PATO), Whittier, Alaska, located about 20 miles southeast of the accident site. At 1253, a METAR was reporting, in part, wind, variable at 6 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, overcast clouds at 5,000 ft; temperature, 55°F; dew point, 52°F; and an altimeter setting of 30.08 inches of mercury. 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Private
Age: 81, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land; Single-engine Sea
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 09/06/2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 07/07/2019
Flight Time:   1438 hours (Total, all aircraft), 756 hours (Total, this make and model), 1380 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 15 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 9 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Lake
Registration: N6672L
Model/Series: LA-4-200
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1970
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 435
Landing Gear Type: Amphibian; Tricycle
Seats:
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 06/08/2019, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 2690 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 2333.3 Hours as of last inspection
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: C126 installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: IO-360 A1B6
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 200 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:
Distance from Accident Site:
Observation Time: 1953 UTC
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: 
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 5000 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: Light and Variable /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual:
Wind Direction: Variable
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.08 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 13°C / 11°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Anchorage, AK (MRI)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Girdwood, AK (AQY)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time:
Type of Airspace: Class G

Airport Information

Airport: Girdwood (AQY)
Runway Surface Type: Gravel
Airport Elevation: 164 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 20
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 2095 ft / 60 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Full Stop; Traffic Pattern

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: 60.968889, -149.119444



Location: Girdwood, AK
Accident Number: ANC19LA051
Date & Time: 09/03/2019, 1300 AKD
Registration: N6672L
Aircraft: Lake LA4
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On September 3, 2019, at about 1300 Alaska daylight time, an amphibious Lake LA-4-200 airplane, N6672L, sustained substantial damage following a brake malfunction and runway excursion at the Girdwood Airport (AQY), Girdwood, Alaska. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to, and operated by, a private individual, under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed Merrill Field (PAMR), Anchorage, Alaska at 1230 destined for AQY.

According to the pilot, after departing PAMR, the landing gear and flaps failed to retract, so he verified that the hydraulic pump circuit breaker had not opened and noted that the hydraulic pressure gauge indicated zero. He utilized the emergency hydraulic hand pump and was able to successfully retract both the landing gear and wing flaps. Upon arrival at AQY, the hydraulic hand pump was once again utilized to extend both the landing gear and wing flaps. The pilot reported that, after touchdown, to slow and steer the airplane, the wheel brakes were applied but they did not work properly. The airplane exited the runway, proceeded down an embankment and came to rest on its left wing and hull, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage.

An examination of the airplane is pending.

The closest official weather observation station to the accident site was Portage Glacier (PATO), Whittier, Alaska, located about 20 miles southeast of the accident site. At 1253, a METAR was reporting, in part, wind, variable at 6 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, overcast clouds at 5,000; temperature, 55°F; dew point, 52°F; and an altimeter setting of 30.08 inches of mercury. 

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information


Aircraft Make: Lake
Registration: N6672L
Model/Series:LA4 200 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: No
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan


Conditions at Accident Site:
Condition of Light:
Observation Facility, Elevation:
Observation Time: 1953 UTC
Distance from Accident Site:
Temperature/Dew Point: 13°C / 11°C
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: Light and Variable / , Variable
Lowest Ceiling: Overcast / 5000 ft agl
Visibility: 10 Miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.08 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Anchorage, AK (MRI)
Destination: Girdwood, AK (AQY)

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:


A helicopter was needed to lift the crashed plane to place in a trailer to move it away from the west side of Girdwood Airport runway.


On the evening on September 3rd, 2019, a Lake LA-4-200 Buccaneer went off of the west side of Girdwood Airport’s runway.

No injuries were reported, and it is unknown if there were passengers. 

Glacier City Gazette verified the accident with a business near the runway.

Glacier City Gazette then contacted Department of Transportation & Public Facilities to request permission to cross the runway to quickly photograph the plane, which was denied because the runway is active. 

The afternoon contact was apparently the first time two Department of Transportation departments had heard of the accident.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration aircraft registry, the plane’s N-Number is N6672L, and Eugene N. Bjornstad is listed as the Trustee in Girdwood. No other owner names are listed. 

As of press time, six days after the accident, the pilot’s identity and cause of the crash remain undisclosed.

Original article can be found here ➤ https://glaciercitygazette.net

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