Pompano Beach Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sunrise, Florida 33312
Sunday, June 21, 2009 11:21 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot/builder of an experimental, amateur-built airplane was in cruise flight at 1,000 feet above ground level when the engine started running rough. The pilot stated that he was unable to maintain altitude, and performed an emergency off-field landing on a road. During the landing roll the tailwheel broke; the pilot then lost control of the airplane, which impacted a metal pole, resulting in damage to the right wing forward spar. According to the pilot, the airplane had 4.5 gallons of fuel on board at departure and flew for 25 minutes prior to the accident. During examination of the airplane, the pilot/builder did not note any mechanical anomalies. The airplane was equipped with a non-certificated, 37.5 horsepower Volkswagen engine.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A partial loss of engine power during cruise flight for an undetermined reason.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/21/2009
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1121
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Sunrise
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33312
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 261148N
Event Location Longitude 0801742W
Event Location Airport Pompano Beach Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PMP
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 13
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 19
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1101 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 140
Weather Observation Facility ID FLL
Elevation of weather observation facility 9
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 2200
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) 33
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 25
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 320
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) 29.9
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25812
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern Region
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 18 2009 11:47AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N824RS
NTSB Number ERA09CA361
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 Hummelbird
Aircraft Model Hummelbird
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 304
Certified Max Gross Weight 525
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 1
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Jun 1 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 169
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Ralph Squeglia
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Fort Lauderdale
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 33312
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Ralph Squeglia
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Fort Lauderdale
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 33312
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 No
Departure Airport Code PMP
Departure City Pompano Beach
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1105
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code HWO
Destination City Hollywood
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Aug 31 2009 2:24PM
User who most recently changed record broda
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 --