Reynolds Airpark Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Green Cove Springs, Florida 32043
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 7:40 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

During an instructional flight while in contact with a Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control facility, the student pilot reduced the throttle to descend with no response. The CFI took the controls and attempted several times to move the throttle control but was unable. The certified flight instructor (CFI) maneuvered the airplane toward a nearby airport, but was unable to maintain altitude due to the decreased engine rpm. During controlled flight while descending, the airplane impacted the tops of trees then impacted the ground. The CFI, whose hand was on the airframe parachute system handle at the point of tree contact, unintentionally fired the parachute at the moment of ground contact. The airplane then nosed over and the rear seat occupant broke the rear window using the emergency egress hammer. All 3 occupants exited the airplane. Further inspection of the engine compartment revealed the No. 2 alternator output cable was routed under the throttle cable, which is contrary to the routing when the airplane was manufactured. The throttle cable housing chafed thru the insulation of the Alternator No. 2 output cable causing arching and fusing both together, preventing movement of the throttle control. Review of the maintenance records revealed six discrepancies related to the No. 2 alternator and two discrepancies related to the throttle control in over a six month period. Two of the corrective action entries for the alternator issued involve removal and replacement of the data acquisition unit (DAU) and master control unit (MCU), while the corrective action for the throttle control was that it was lubricated. Between the date of the six discrepancies related to the No. 2 alternator and the two entries related to the throttle, the airplane was inspected a total of four times either in accordance with a 100-Hour or annual inspection. Inspection of the wiring of the alternator for condition and security is contained in the airplane's maintenance manual.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The fusing of an electrical cable from the No. 2 (standby) alternator with the throttle cable resulting in the flight crew’s inability to move the throttle control. Contributing to the accident was the failure of maintenance personnel to detect inadequate clearance and chafing of the Alternator No. 2 output cable against the throttle cable housing during the 100-Hour inspections.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 11/19/2008
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 740
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Green Cove Springs
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32043
Event Date Year 2008
Event Date Month 11
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 295752N
Event Location Longitude 0813954W
Event Location Airport Reynolds Airpark
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FL60
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 --
Airport Elevation 21
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 750 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID SGJ
Elevation of weather observation facility 10
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
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 None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) -2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 330
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) 30.34
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26899
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern Region C-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 22 2010 11:38AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N389CP
NTSB Number ERA09LA062
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 CIRRUS DESIGN CORP
Aircraft Model SR20
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1881
Certified Max Gross Weight 3000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Nov 14 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 35
Airframe Hours 531
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name ATG-GA LEASING LLC
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3108 PEACH ORCHARD RD
Aircraft Owner City AUGUSTA
Aircraft Owner State GA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 30906-3580
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name CAPT, LLC
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 1000 Aviation Drive
Operator City Palm Coast
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 32164
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code XFL
Departure City Palm Coast
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 711
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code XFL
Destination City Palm Coast
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 6 2010 2:45PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
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 --