Lee Gilmer Memorial Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Gainesville, Georgia 30501
Monday, April 1, 2002 15:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot and CFI were conducting a series of touch and go landings when smoke was seen streaming from the right lower section of the engine cowling after take off. Witnesses also reported hearing a rough engine condition. At approximately the same time, the pilot initiated a left turn towards the airport. The airplane was last seen in a nose low attitude. The airplane disappeared below the tree line and collided with the ground. Examination of the engine revealed damage throughout the supercharger assembly. The supercharge impeller was not totally secure on the impeller shaft. The impeller shaft retainer nut was loose on its shaft. This nut as well as the impeller shaft gear-teeth showed signs of wear. These teeth were worn down and disfigured. Both the aluminum cover plate and the bottom of the impeller blades showed signs of circular scraping. Small pieces of metal were found throughout the engine. Disassembly of the oil filter revealed metal shavings throughout. No metal parts or gear teeth were found in the oil sump.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power following a supercharger bearing failure and subsequent collision with the ground while maneuvering for an emergency landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/1/2002
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Gainesville
Event State GEORGIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 30501
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 341623N
Event Location Longitude 0834937W
Event Location Airport Lee Gilmer Memorial
Event Location Nearest Airport ID GVL
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 200
Airport Elevation 1275
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1453 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 229
Weather Observation Facility ID PDK
Elevation of weather observation facility 1002
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 34
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 290
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.01
Density Altitude (feet) 1855
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14143
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Apr 1 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1530
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2003 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Atlanta Fsdo

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7471C
NTSB Number ATL02FA072
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name North American
Aircraft Model T-6-AT6D
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 42-85550
Certified Max Gross Weight 4225
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 10 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 5440.11
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Roger D Henderson
Aircraft Owner Street Address 42 Christopher CT
Aircraft Owner City El Sobrante
Aircraft Owner State CT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 94803
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name U.S. Aircraft Inc., LLC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 709 Key Royale Drive
Operator City Holmes Beach
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 34218
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code GVL
Departure City Gainesville
Departure State GA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code GVL
Destination City Gainesville
Destination State GA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Sep 18 2003 1:04PM
User who most recently changed record POWP
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 290
Runway Length 4001
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --