Goodspeed Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

East Haddam, Connecticut 06371
Saturday, September 20, 2008 8:55 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that he conducted a preflight inspection, and an engine run-up before departing. He added 1.5 to 2 gallons of automotive gasoline to the fuel tank; however he did not stick the fuel tanks or check to see if there was any water present in the fuel tanks. He turned the boost pump on, and departed from runway 14. The airplane was on initial takeoff climb, about 300 feet when the engine sputtered and lost power. He immediately turned the airplane to the right in order to return to the airport, and the airplane collided with trees and came to rest inverted on the ground. Examination of both fuel tanks revealed the fuel tanks were not ruptured and the fuel caps had a tight seal. The airplane is not equipped with fuel sump drains. Examination of the fuel system revealed all fuel lines were intact and correctly routed. Water was present in the fuel lines and the carburetor bowls. The spark plugs were removed and the propeller was turned by hand. Compression and suction was available on all cylinders and engine continuity was confirmed from the forward section of the engine aft to the accessory case. Fire department personnel who responded to the accident site stated no water was used on the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper preflight inspection of the airplane. Contributing to the accident was water contamination of the fuel.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/20/2008
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 855
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City East Haddam
Event State CONNECTICUT
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 06371
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 412644N
Event Location Longitude 0722720W
Event Location Airport Goodspeed Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 42B
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 9
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 240
Weather Observation Facility ID HVN
Elevation of weather observation facility 14
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 22
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
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) 12
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 10
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.36
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious 2
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 24550
NTSB Notification Source Witness
NTSB Notification Date Sep 20 2008 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 26 2009 3:15PM
User who most recently changed record grol
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Windsor Locks

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N350RB
NTSB Number MIA08LA197
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 Berrie
Aircraft Model Kolb Mark III
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 299
Certified Max Gross Weight 1000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Apr 1 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 11
Airframe Hours 220
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Robert C. Berrie
Aircraft Owner Street Address 85 Christian Hill Road
Aircraft Owner City Higganum
Aircraft Owner State CT
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 06441
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Robert C. Berrie
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 85 Christian Hill Road
Operator City Higganum
Operator State CT
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 06441
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 42B
Departure City East Haddam
Departure State CT
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 855
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code 42B
Destination City East Haddam
Destination State CT
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Emergency landing after takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 20 2008 3:49PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 14
Runway Length 2120
Runway Width 50
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --