Friday, February 21, 2020

Ground Handling Event: Van's RV-8A, N7736T; accident occurred February 15, 2020 at Columbus-Lowndes County Airport (KUBS), Mississippi


Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Jackson, Mississippi

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/N7736T

Location: Columbus, MS
Accident Number: CEN20CA087
Date & Time: 02/15/2020, 0700 CST
Registration:N7736T 
Aircraft:Vans RV8 
Aircraft Damage:Destroyed 
Defining Event: Ground handling event
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal

The pilot reported that he planned a flight in a single-engine airplane. He conducted the pre-flight and then during the start sequence, the engine's starter would not engage. He turned off the switches, set the parking brake, and exited the cockpit. He rotated the engine by turning the propeller slowly by hand, so the starter would engage. The engine started unexpectedly, and the airplane moved forward.

The airplane collided with a hangar and an electrical transformer box, and a post-impact fire ensued. The airplane was consumed by the fire, which prevented any examination of the cockpit, brakes, or electrical system.

The accident is consistent with an inadvertent engine start when the pilot rotated the propeller. 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline Transport; Commercial
Age: 38
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: None
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s):Airplane 
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): Airplane Single-engine; Instrument Airplane
Toxicology Performed:No 
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 06/30/2018
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time:  2300 hours (Total, all aircraft), 120 hours (Total, this make and model), 2000 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 11 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 4 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 2 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Vans
Registration: N7736T
Model/Series: RV8 A
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture:
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 81302
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 04/30/2019, Condition
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines:  Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 400 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: C126 installed, not activated
Engine Model/Series: IO-360
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: KGTR
Distance from Accident Site: 9 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1256 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 270°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility (RVR):  
Wind Speed/Gusts: 3 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: 
Wind Direction: 80°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual:
Altimeter Setting: 30.44 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: -2°C / -3°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Precipitation
Departure Point: Columbus, MS (UBS)
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Destination:
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time:  CST
Type of Airspace:

Airport Information

Airport: Columbus-Lowndes County (UBS)
Runway Surface Type: N/A
Airport Elevation: 188 ft
Runway Surface Condition:Unknown 
Runway Used: N/A
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width:
VFR Approach/Landing: None

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude:  33.464444, -88.382500


































A pilot suffered minor injuries and an Van's RV-8A amateur built experimental aircraft was destroyed when it struck an aircraft hangar at the Columbus-Lowndes County Airport and caught fire Saturday morning. 

The pilot was attempting to prime the Van's RV-8A engine by manually moving the propeller when the engine started unexpectedly. The pilot was not in the plane when it collided with the hangar. He refused medical treatment. 

"This was not an intentional start of the engine," Airport Manager Jared Rabren said in the press release. 

The plane's registered owner is Nicholas Ervin of Valdosta, Georgia, according to the Federal Aviation Administration website. 

Officials have notified the National Transportation Safety Board. The airport remains open. 

City officials did not identify the pilot, other than to say he is licensed by the Federal Aviation Administration and lives in Columbus. 

Columbus Fire and Rescue Chief Martin Andrews said the parking brake was set but didn't hold. 

"The plane moved forward, turned to the right, struck an electrical panel, then another airplane hangar building and caught fire," he said. "Reports are the plane never left the ground." 

Firefighters contained the blaze, but the hangar suffered "major damage" the press release said. City Public Information Officer Joe Dillon said officials will have a better idea of the cost of repairs later this week. 

"It could have been a lot worse," Andrews said in the press release. "We are glad the pilot and no one else was seriously injured during the accident. The plane is destroyed, and the building can be repaired, but safety for human lives is most important."

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

COLUMBUS, Mississippi (WTVA)- A man suffered minor injuries after his Van's RV-8A experimental aircraft crashed at the Columbus-Lowndes County Airport around 7 a.m. Saturday morning.

Columbus City Spokesperson Joe Dillon said the pilot was trying to warm up the Van's RV-8A engine by manually turning to propeller.

According to Airport Manager Jared Rabren the plane's engine started unexpectedly.

"This was not an intentional start of the engine," Rabren said. "It had been down in the 20-degrees temperature overnight and he was simply priming the engine, not intending to start it."

The plane never left the ground, but crashed into a nearby aircraft hangar and caught fire.

The pilot was not inside the plane.

Columbus Fire and Rescue put out the flames within minutes of arriving. Responders used special training to put out the flames.

Dillon said the crash destroyed the plane and severely damaged the hangar. The plane also hit a nearby building, but the building will be able to be repaired.

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

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