Pilot Debrief

Aero Adventure Aventura UL near Garden Ridge, TX — 2017-04-04

Final reportCEN17LA149
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Date
2017-04-04
Location
Garden Ridge, TX, USA
Airport
TS67
Aircraft
Aero Adventure Aventura UL
Registration
N580TX
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was performing a local flight in the airport traffic pattern. The engine began to "sputter" while the amphibian airplane was about 300 ft above the ground on the crosswind leg for the runway. The engine subsequently lost total power, and the propeller stopped rotating. The pilot conducted a forced landing in a nearby clearing among trees, and the hull and both wings were substantially damaged. The fuel system had ample fuel, and the fuel shutoff valve was open. The fuel filter assembly and both carburetors contained fuel. The postaccident examination and successful engine test run revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. Although the weather conditions were conducive for the formation of carburetor ice, the airplane's engine was equipped with carburetors with a variable-venturi design that are not generally prone to carburetor icing.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the flight after engine began to sputter.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 7 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents7

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