Pilot Debrief

S.C. Aerostar S.A. Yak52 near South Portland, ME — 2010-07-17

Final reportERA10FA364
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Date
2010-07-17
Location
South Portland, ME, USA
Airport
PWM
Aircraft
S.C. Aerostar S.A. Yak52
Registration
N52MY
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
2
Phase of flight
Takeoff roll

Probable cause

The pilot did not maintain adequate airspeed during an emergency return to the airport following a total loss of engine power, which resulted in an inadvertent stall. Contributing to the accident was a total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the pilot's lack of recent flying experience.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was a total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the pilot's lack of recent flying experience.

NTSB narrative

The pilot had not flown any airplane in almost 2 years. The purpose of the flight was for the pilot to obtain a biennial flight review from an instructor. Additionally, the accident flight was the first flight after the airplane's most recent annual condition inspection, which was completed about 2 weeks before the accident. The airplane made two touch-and-go landings uneventfully. The third landing was full-stop, followed by the pilot back-taxiing to the run-up area and testing the engine. Following the engine run-up, the pilot intended to take off again; he told the air traffic controller that he wanted to fly over the airport at 3,000 feet to do a system check. A witness stated that, during the takeoff, the wings started to rock back and forth. The pilot indicated to the air traffic controller that he wanted to return to the airport, and he began a slow left turn. About one-fourth of the way through the turn, the airplane stalled and descended nose-low into the ground. Examination of the wreckage revealed that one wooden propeller blade had separated at the hub and the other blade had separated about mid-span. The propeller blade and engine damage were consistent with little or no rotation at impact. Adequate fuel was found in the fuel system, and no evidence of contamination was noted. On-scene and metallurgical examination of the wreckage and fuel components did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. Although this airplane had a history of fuel flow obstruction due to debris in the fuel system caused by torn hoses as a result of the installation of English-size fuel hoses rather than metric, no evidence of tear debris was found in the fuel system of the accident airplane.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted takeoff when wings started rocking.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Video
  • ADS-B / radar
  • Photos
  • 24 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents24

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