Pilot Debrief

WILLIAMS CHRISTOPHER T SONEX near Wellington, FL — 2014-02-17

Final reportERA14FA123
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Date
2014-02-17
Location
Wellington, FL, USA
Airport
FD38
Aircraft
WILLIAMS CHRISTOPHER T SONEX
Registration
N732SX
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed following a partial loss of engine power during initial climb, which led to the airplane exceeding its critical angle of attack and experiencing an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper repair of a stripped spark plug hole, which led to a partial loss of engine power during initial climb.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the pilot's improper repair of a stripped spark plug hole, which led to a partial loss of engine power during initial climb.

NTSB narrative

The airplane had just departed the airport; one witness reported that during the initial climb the engine "sputtered," and another reported that it "backfired." The pilot then made a steep turn back toward the airport, but the airplane stalled and spiraled to the ground. The airplane was equipped with an electronic flight instrument system that recorded numerous engine and flight parameters. Review of the downloaded data revealed that, initially, the engine was operating normally and within design parameters. However, toward the end of the recorded data, the No. 1 cylinder head and exhaust gas temperatures had begun to decrease while the other cylinder temperature parameters remained fairly constant. The engine data then recorded a decrease in engine rpm followed by a steep 180-degree turn toward the airport. A witness who assisted the pilot with the airplane's oil change 2 days earlier stated that the pilot had cross-threaded a spark plug in the No. 1 cylinder and attempted a helicoil repair. During examination after the accident, the No. 1 sparkplug was easily removed by hand. This was likely the cause of the power loss that preceded the pilot's attempt to return to the airport. The pilot's steep, 180-degree turn exceeded the airplane's critical angle of attack, which resulted in a stall at low altitude and collision with terrain. A review of the pilot's toxicology revealed that even though he tested positive for antidepressants, they were not a factor in the accident.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the takeoff after engine issues were noted.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • FDR / data
  • Photos
  • 12 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents12

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