Pilot Debrief

Shaffstall Kolb Firestar II near Concord, NC — 2008-05-06

Final reportANC08LA063
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Date
2008-05-06
Location
Concord, NC, USA
Airport
4NC8
Aircraft
Shaffstall Kolb Firestar II
Registration
N40737
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

A loss of engine power for an undetermined reason, which resulted in a forced landing and collision with terrain.

NTSB narrative

The airplane was originally built and marketed as a kit built, two seat ultralight aircraft with a tubular frame and fabric-covered wings, but it was registered to the builder in 1995 as an airplane, and an "N" number was issued. The FAA's airplane registry still has the builder listed as owner, with a sale reported to another party, but not to the pilot. The pilot told an FAA inspector that he bought the airplane as a "no regulation" aircraft on E Bay. He assembled the airplane, installed a single seat, and rebuilt the Rotax engine about 30 hours before the accident. The airplane did not have a current registration, nor an airworthiness certificate. As part of the pilot's preflight before the accident flight, he drained and refilled the fuel tank. He then ran the engine, on the ground, for about 30 minutes. He then departed for one turn around the airport traffic pattern, and landed. He rechecked the engine and decided to depart for his intended destination. The pilot said that he just turned out from the local traffic pattern about 700 feet above the ground when the engine lost power. He tried to turn back toward the airport, but the airplane's glide capabilities were poor. He attempted to land on a nearby road, but the airplane descended in a steep, nose-down attitude, and collided with the ground in the front yard of a residence. FAA personnel, nor the pilot determined why the engine lost power.

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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