Indian Hammock Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Fort Drum, Florida 33472
Monday, July 4, 2011 8:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, during the initial climb, about 30 feet above ground level, the engine experienced a total loss of power. He attempted to land on the remaining runway and avoid a ditch located at the end of the runway. However, the airplane's wing struck the ground, and the airplane came to rest facing the opposite direction of travel. The pilot further reported that he had removed the fuel from the fuel tanks to facilitate recovery. A small area of blight was noted near where the airplane came to rest; however, due to the damage to the engine it could not be conclusively determined if fuel was present. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or abnormalities that would have precluded normal operation. While the airplane was being operated in conditions conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power, it is not likely that the airplane could have lost engine power during the climb at takeoff power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/4/2011
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 830
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Fort Drum
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33472
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 273231N
Event Location Longitude 0804959W
Event Location Airport Indian Hammock Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID FL75
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 65
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 835 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 180
Weather Observation Facility ID OBE
Elevation of weather observation facility 34
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 19
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 100
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 3
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.02
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) 29724
NTSB Notification Source FAA/FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 11 2012 11:14AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3226N
NTSB Number ERA11LA400
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 FESSENDEN ALFRED
Aircraft Model EXPERMENTAL RV-4
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 243
Certified Max Gross Weight 1800
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 1 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 6
Airframe Hours 440
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name GROUND SEA & AIR LTD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3511 SILVERSIDE RD STE 105
Aircraft Owner City WILMINGTON
Aircraft Owner State DE
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 19810-4902
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name Bradly Brown
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City OKEECHOBEE
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 34972
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 FL75
Departure City Fort Drum
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 830
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code FL75
Destination City Fort Drum
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 11 2012 11:15AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 11
Runway Length 3000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --