Pilot Debrief

HALBERT JAMES H RANS S-7 near Short, OK — 2009-09-06

Final reportCEN09CA563
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Date
2009-09-06
Location
Short, OK, USA
Aircraft
HALBERT JAMES H RANS S-7
Registration
N615JH
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

NTSB narrative

The sport pilot was departing the 1,200 foot grass strip. He reported that the takeoff was normal until passing 250 feet above ground level. The engine began losing power without associated roughness or engine vibration. The pilot did not observe the gauges and focused on finding a suitable landing area. Since the airplane's flight path was toward slightly rising terrain, the pilot elected to turn the airplane toward a suitable landing area. During the turn, the airplane began losing altitude and the pilot performed a forced landing to an uncut hay field. Despite trying to keep the wings level, the left wing struck the hay first resulting in the airplane pivoting around the left wing tip. The airplane rotated 180 degrees before coming to rest in the upright position. A fire started near the lower portion of the engine and the passenger assisted with the pilot's egress prior to the airplane becoming engulfed in flames. Due to the remote location, the pilot reported that the fire response took 30 minutes. The pilot reported that the engine had operated normally prior to the accident flight without any indications of an impending failure. Thermal damage prevented a thorough investigation of the engine and the reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have monitored engine gauges during initial climb for early warning.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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