Minute Man Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Stow, Massachusetts 01775
Thursday, October 7, 2004 14:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The homebuilt airplane was flown earlier in the day with no deficiencies noted. After landing, the pilot refueled the airplane and completed a preflight inspection prior to departure. After takeoff, the airplane " ...just didn't have the power it normally has." The pilot never looked at the instruments, and couldn't estimate the engine rpm, but thought the engine sounded "normal." The airplane could not climb above a stand of trees in the takeoff path, but the pilot was able to maneuver around it. A second stand of trees in the takeoff path could not be avoided, and the airplane could not climb over it. The airplane struck the trees and came to rest suspended in them without injury to the occupants. A detailed examination of the engine revealed only impact damage, and no mechanical anomolies. According to FAA Advisory Circular AC-20-27D, Certification and Operation of Amateur-Built Aircraft: "FAA inspections of amateur-built aircraft have been limited to ensuring the use of acceptable workmanship methods, techniques, practices, and issuing operating limitations necessary to protect persons and property not involved in this activity."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, which resulted in the airplane's inability to climb over a stand of trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/7/2004
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1415
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Stow
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 01775
Event Date Year 2004
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 422737N
Event Location Longitude 0713104W
Event Location Airport Minute Man
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 6B6
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 268
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1356 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID BED
Elevation of weather observation facility 133
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 25000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
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) -3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 220
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) 30.34
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 18119
NTSB Notification Source FAA NEROC
NTSB Notification Date Oct 7 2004 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2130
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Sep 13 2005 12:54PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\JOHB
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Boston FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N210SQ
NTSB Number IAD05LA002
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 Bradley
Aircraft Model Renegade
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number REN 575
Certified Max Gross Weight 1050
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 30 2004 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 160
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Roderick Bradley
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Guilford
Aircraft Owner State CT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code 6B6
Departure City Stow
Departure State MA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1415
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code WST
Destination City WESTERLY
Destination State RI
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 Jun 7 2005 3:57PM
User who most recently changed record COXP
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 03
Runway Length 2770
Runway Width 48
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --