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.
The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.
Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Orlando, Florida
Barraza Marin & Associates LLC doing business as Barraza-Marin Group
https://registry.faa.gov/N78BM
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
Accident Number: ERA20LA077
Date & Time: January 14, 2020, 16:00 Local
Registration: N78BM
Aircraft: Michael A. Watson Velocity Elite
RG Injuries: 3 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal
On January 14, 2020, about 1600 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built Velocity Elite RG, N78BM, was substantially damaged during a rejected takeoff at Albert Whitted Airport (SPG), St. Petersburg, Florida. The airline transport pilot and two passengers were not injured. The airplane was registered to a private company and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. An instrument flight rules flight plan was filed for the flight destined for Orlando Executive Airport (ORL), Orlando, Florida.
According to the pilot, he and his two passengers had departed ORL earlier in the day and flew to SPG for lunch. Prior to the return flight, he completed a normal preflight inspection of the airplane, boarded the passengers, started the engine and requested to taxi to runway 7.
Prior to advising the air traffic controller that he was ready for departure; he performed an engine run-up with no anomalies and prepared the airplane for takeoff. The air traffic controller requested that he use the D2 intersection for departure, which the pilot declined and stayed at the D1 intersection in order to have more available runway for the takeoff roll.
When cleared for takeoff, he taxied onto runway 7, held the brakes and increased engine power. All indications showed normal, and he released the brakes and commenced the takeoff roll. The first part of the takeoff roll was normal, but he then noticed a sudden lack of acceleration, with the indicated airspeed not increasing past 60 knots. He then aborted the takeoff, brought the power to idle and applied maximum braking.
The airplane remained on the extended centerline of the runway; however, it departed the end of the runway and came on top of a rock embankment, just short of where the embankment met the waters of Tampa Bay.
Examination of the airplane revealed that the nose structure and the canard were substantially damaged.
Examination of the engine revealed no preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operation; however, examination of the electrically controlled variable pitch propeller system revealed that it would not change pitch when the switch lever was operated.
Further examination of the propeller system revealed that the propeller was not in the fine pitch, high rpm position used for takeoff. Corrosion was present on the propeller slip rings, and when power was applied to the electric motor which controlled the propeller pitch mechanism, it would operate intermittently.
According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and pilot records, the pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate with a rating for airplane multi-engine land, private pilot privileges for airplane single-engine land, and several transport category airplane type ratings. His most recent FAA first-class medical certificate was issued on November 14, 2019. He reported that he had accrued about 12,530 total hours of flight experience, 57 of which was in the accident airplane make and model.
According to FAA and airplane maintenance records, the airplane received its special airworthiness certificate in 1998. The airplane's most recent condition inspection was completed on June 22, 2019. At the time of the inspection, the airplane and engine had accrued about 443 total hours of operation.
The recorded weather at SPG, at 1505, included wind 260 at 9 knots, visibility 10 miles, few clouds at 2,800ft, temperature 26° C, dew point 21° C, and an altimeter setting of 30.18 inches of mercury.
Portions of the propeller system were retained for further examination.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Michael A. Watson
Registration: N78BM
Model/Series: Velocity Elite RG
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: Yes
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: SPG,7 ft msl
Observation Time: 15:05 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 26°C /21°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 2800 ft AGL
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 9 knots / , 260°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.18 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Departure Point: St. Petersburg, FL (SPG)
Destination: Orlando, FL (ORL )
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 2 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 3 None
Latitude, Longitude: 27.764999,-82.626945 (est)
Location: Lady Lake, FL
Accident Number: ERA21LA009
Date & Time: October 6, 2020, 15:30 Local
Registration: N78BM
Aircraft: Velocity Elite
Injuries: 1 Minor
Flight Conducted Under:
On October 6, 2020, about 1530 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Velocity Elite RG, N78BM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Lady Lake, Florida. The airline transport pilot incurred minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The pilot reported that he purchased fuel and departed with 31 gallons on an instrument flight rules flight from Gainesville Regional Airport (GNV), Gainesville, Florida to Executive Airport (ORL), Orlando, Florida. About 20 minutes into the flight, the pilot descended the airplane from 7,000 ft mean sea level (msl) to 3,000 ft msl, to fly below some convective cloud buildup. About 1 to 2 minutes after leveling the airplane at 3,000 ft msl, the engine lost all power without any unusual sounds. The pilot verified adequate fuel and that the mixture and throttle were in the correct positions; however, he was unable to restart the engine. With the assistance of air traffic control, the pilot attempted to glide the airplane to Leesburg International Airport (LEE), Leesburg, Florida, but soon realized that the airplane would not glide the full distance to the airport. The pilot subsequently landed in a field and the airplane struck a fence before coming to rest upright, resulting in damage to the wings and fuselage.
The airplane was assembled in 1997 and equipped with a Franklin engine manufactured that same year. At the time of the accident, the airframe and engine had accumulated about 467 hours since new. The wreckage was retained for further examination.
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: Velocity
Registration: N78BM
Model/Series: Elite RG
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: Yes
Operator:
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: LEE,76 ft msl
Observation Time: 15:53 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 10 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 33°C /23°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Few / 4300 ft AGL
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 8 knots / , 80°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.95 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: IFR
Departure Point: Gainesville, FL (GNV)
Destination: Orlando, FL (ORL)
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Minor
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Minor
Latitude, Longitude: 28.929167,81.930833 (est)
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