Pilot Debrief

DELWYN SCHMIDT No model near Bennington, KS — 2015-10-25

Final reportCEN16LA022
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Date
2015-10-25
Location
Bennington, KS, USA
Aircraft
DELWYN SCHMIDT No model
Registration
UNREG
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

The unregistered airplane’s loss of engine power due to piston seizure. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s loss of airplane control while maneuvering back to the runway.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the pilot's loss of airplane control while maneuvering back to the runway.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot taxied out and departed for the personal flight from a private grass runway in an unregistered homebuilt airplane. A witness reported that, when the airplane reached 150 ft above the ground, the engine stopped. The pilot then turned the airplane back toward the runway, and it then dropped and impacted terrain. The airplane did not have an airworthiness certificate, and no maintenance records were found. Examination of the engine pistons found evidence of scoring, consistent with piston seizure. The accident is consistent with a loss of engine power due to piston seizure and with the pilot subsequently losing airplane control while maneuvering back to the runway.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Proper engine warm-up before takeoff could have prevented power loss.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents4

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