Butler County Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Hamilton, Ohio 45015
Saturday, May 11, 2013 17:55 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On May 11, 2013, at 1755 eastern daylight time, an Ankerstar Bradley D. Rand-Robinson KR2, N774A, impacted terrain near Butler County Regional Airport (HAO), Hamilton, Ohio, following a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was seriously injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to a private individual and operated by the pilot under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight which was not operating on a flight plan. The flight originated from Butler County Regional Airport (HAO), Hamilton, Ohio at 1755. The pilot stated that after take-off and the initial climb at 80 knots, the airplane stopped climbing about 30 feet above the runaway. He then leveled off at 70 knots, and the engine lost power. With the propeller still spinning, the pilot nosed over and impacted the ground approximately 1000 feet beyond the runaway. The pilot indicated that he used automotive gas from a gas can located in hangar to fuel the airplane. According to a person of expertise, the use of automotive gas in a Volkswagen engine with a POSA type carburetor (Revflow) causes a greater potential for vapor lock, as the automotive gas has a lower boiling point than Avgas. Furthermore, in a Volkswagen engine that is tightly cowled, the fuel lines should be insulated to protect against engine heat, and often outside air is piped in for cooling of fuel components including a gascolator. The gascolator on the mishap airplane was not shrouded or insulated, and was mounted approximately 2 inches aft of an exhaust pipe. A fuel test was performed on a fuel sample taken from the can, and a fuel sample taken from the mishap airplane. Fuel test result show that there was a difference of total aromatics between samples; the sample from the can was 48%, and the sample from the tank was 57%.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/11/2013
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1755
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Hamilton
Event State OHIO
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 45015
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 392138N
Event Location Longitude 0843146W
Event Location Airport Butler County Regional Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID HAO
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 300
Airport Elevation 632
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 1700 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
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) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
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 Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) --
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 1 2014 12:24PM
User who most recently changed record lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N774A
NTSB Number CEN13LA304
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ANKESTAR, BRADLEY D.
Aircraft Model RAND-ROBINSON KR2
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 130
Certified Max Gross Weight 950
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats 1
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 --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name ANKERSTAR BRADLEY D
Aircraft Owner Street Address 2495 BONE RD
Aircraft Owner City LEBANON
Aircraft Owner State OH
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 45036-9559
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name ANKERSTAR BRADLEY D
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 2495 BONE RD
Operator City LEBANON
Operator State OH
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 45036-9559
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 HAO
Departure City Hamilton
Departure State OH
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1755
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code HAO
Destination City Hamilton
Destination State OH
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 1 2014 12:24PM
User who most recently changed record lema
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 29
Runway Length 5500
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --