Individually Owned: 150,657
Corporate Owned: 137,281
N/A Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report
Peoria, Illinois 61615
Friday, October 3, 2003 10:45 CDT
NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident
The amateur-built experimental airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a partial loss of engine power. The pilot reported that he was in an en route descent when he advanced the throttle in order to level off. However, the engine did not respond and remained at idle power. His attempts to restore useful power were not successful. He set up for a forced landing. As he turned final, about 50 feet above ground level, he "felt the canard stall with its characteristic nose down bob." He reportedly pushed the nose down and "felt the canard resume flying." The pilot pulled back, raising the nose as the aircraft "pancaked into the ground." The aircraft slid approximately 300 feet on the grass before coming to rest. After the aircraft came to a stop, the pilot noted the engine was "still ticking over smoothly as it had been throughout this experience." He reported that he advanced the throttle once again to see if the engine would respond, however, it did not. A post-accident inspection was conducted. The aircraft was powered by an electronic fuel injected, rotary engine. Control continuity from the cockpit to the engine was verified and no anomalies were noted. Internal engine continuity was verified by propeller shaft/crankshaft rotation. Fuel was present at the inlet and outlet to the filter and the filter itself was clean. Fuel was present in the fuel tanks and appeared to be uncontaminated. The throttle body was intact and appeared fully functional. The manifold pressure orifices at the throttle body and the tubing from each orifice to the manifold pressure sensor was intact and unobstructed. The wiring harness between the sensor and electronic control unit (ECU), including the connectors and connector pins, appeared undamaged. The manifold pressure sensors were tested and functioned properly. The ECU controlled ignition and fuel metering to the engine. According to the manufacturer, a sensor reads manifold pressure at the throttle body. This is provided to the ECU in order to control fuel metering.
NTSB Probable Cause Narrative
The loss of power for undetermined reasons and the inadvertent stall of the canard by the pilot on the turn to final during the forced landing, as well as the excessive descent rate causing the aircraft to "pancake" into the ground.
Event Information
| Type of Event | Accident |
| Event Date | 10/3/2003 |
| Event Day of the Week | Friday |
| Time of Event | 1045 |
| Event Time Zone | Central Daylight Time |
| Event City | Peoria |
| Event State | ILLINOIS |
| Event Country | -- |
| Zipcode of the event site | 61615 |
| Event Date Year | 2003 |
| Event Date Month | 10 |
| MidAir Collision Indicator | No |
| On Ground Collision occurred ? | No |
| Event Location Latitude | 404728N |
| Event Location Longitude | 0893925W |
| Event Location Airport | N/A |
| Event Location Nearest Airport ID | -- |
| Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport | Off Airport/Airstrip |
| Distance from airport in statute miles | -- |
| Degrees magnetic from airport | -- |
| Airport Elevation | 700 |
| Weather Briefing Completeness | Full |
| Investigator's weather source | Weather Observation Facility |
| Time of the weather observation | 1054 Central Daylight Time |
| Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) | 190 |
| Weather Observation Facility ID | PIA |
| Elevation of weather observation facility | 660 |
| Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) | 7 |
| Time Zone of the weather observation | CDT |
| Lighting Conditions | Day |
| Lowest Ceiling Height | 5000 |
| Lowest Non-Ceiling Height | -- |
| Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions | -- |
| Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling | Broken |
| Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) | -- |
| Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) | -- |
| Visibility (Statute Miles) | 10 |
| Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) | 9 |
| Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) | 3 |
| Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) | 210 |
| Variable Wind Indicator | Wind direction could be determined |
| Wind Speed (knots) | 15 |
| Wind Velocity Indicator | -- |
| Wind Gust Indicator | Gusting |
| Wind Gust (knots) | 0 |
| Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) | 29.86 |
| Density Altitude (feet) | -- |
| Intensity of Precipitation | -- |
| METAR weather report | METAR KPIA 031554Z 21015KT 10SM BKN050 OVC060 09/0 |
| Event Highest Injury | Minor |
| On Ground, Fatal Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Minor Injuries | -- |
| On Ground, Serious Injuries | -- |
| Injury Total Fatal | -- |
| Injury Total Minor | 1 |
| Injury Total None | -- |
| Injury Total Serious | -- |
| Injury Total All | 1 |
| Investigating Agency | NTSB |
| NTSB Docket Number (internal use) | 15453 |
| NTSB Notification Source | FAA |
| NTSB Notification Date | Oct 3 2003 12:00AM |
| NTSB Notification Time | 1237 |
| Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information | DMS |
| Date of most recent change to record | Jun 3 2004 1:28PM |
| User who most recently changed record | NTSB\MONR |
| Basic weather conditions | Visual Meteorological Cond |
| FAA District Office | FAA -- Springfield FSDO |
Aircraft Involved |
|
|---|---|
Aircraft #1 |
|
| Aircraft Registration Number | N222TH |
| NTSB Number | CHI04LA002 |
| 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 | Goldman |
| Aircraft Model | Dragonfly |
| Aircraft Series Identifier | -- |
| Aircraft Serial Number | 491 |
| Certified Max Gross Weight | 1400 |
| Aircraft Category | Airplane |
| Aircraft Registration Class | U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil |
| Aircraft is a homebuilt? | Yes |
| 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 | Fixed |
| Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection | Conditional |
| Date of Last Inspection | Sep 16 2003 12:00AM |
| Airframe hours since last inspection | 10 |
| Airframe Hours | 110.2 |
| ELT Installed | Yes |
| ELT Activated | Yes |
| ELT Aided Location of Event Site | No |
| ELT Type | -- |
| Aircraft Owner Name | Richard A. Goldman |
| Aircraft Owner Street Address | 2349 Arbeleda Lane |
| Aircraft Owner City | Northbrook |
| Aircraft Owner State | IL |
| Aircraft Owner Country | USA |
| Aircraft Owner Zipcode | 60062 |
| Operator is an individual? | Yes |
| Operator Name | -- |
| Operator Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Is Doing Business As | -- |
| Operator Address Same as Owner? | Yes |
| Operator Street Address | -- |
| Operator City | -- |
| Operator State | -- |
| Operator Country | -- |
| Operator Zip code | -- |
| 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) | Personal |
| Second Pilot on Board | No |
| Departure Point Same as Event | No |
| Departure Airport Code | ENW |
| Departure City | Kenosha |
| Departure State | WI |
| Departure Country | USA |
| Departure Time | 900 |
| Departure Time Zone | CDT |
| Destination Same as Local Flt | -- |
| Destination Airport Code | PIA |
| Destination City | Peoria |
| Destination State | IL |
| Destination Country | USA |
| Specific Phase of Flight | Descent - normal |
| Report sent to ICAO? | No |
| Evacuation occurred | No |
| Date of most recent change to record | Apr 5 2004 7:55AM |
| User who most recently changed record | SULP |
| Since inspection or accident | Time of Accident |
| Event Location Runway Number and Location | N/A |
| Runway Length | -- |
| Runway Width | -- |
| Sight Seeing flight | No |
| Air Medical Flight | No |
| Medical Flight | -- |