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NTSB Report

May 4, 2016 · Airborne Redback NO Series · N528PG

Arlington, WA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
May 4, 2016
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Arlington, WA
Aircraft
Airborne Redback NO Series (2002)
Tail Number
N528PG
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
GAA16CA216

According to the pilot of the weight shift controlled trike, he had spent several hours trying to start the trike on the previous day without success. He recalled that on the morning of the accident, with the ignition off, he sprayed ether into each of the carburetors and pulled several times on the engine's starter cord. He reported that he then turned on the ignition, pulled the starter cord once, the engine started and the trike accelerated forward. He recalled that the trike rolled over the chalks that were in front of the wheels, drug him for about 100 feet before he released the cord, and the trike became airborne. The trike was airborne for several seconds before impacting the rooftop of a hangar and sustaining substantial damage to the wing keel and the control bar. The pilot reported that there were not any pre-accident mechanical failures or anomalies with the trike that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident. The pilot reported that in hind sight, he should have placed the hand throttle to idle before pulling the cord.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to adequately secure the aircraft while manually starting the engine from outside the cockpit, which resulted in the unmanned aircraft becoming airborne and colliding with a hangar roof.

Full Narrative

According to the pilot of the weight shift controlled trike, he had spent several hours trying to start the trike on the previous day without success. He recalled that on the morning of the accident, with the ignition off, he sprayed ether into each of the carburetors and pulled several times on the engine's starter cord. He reported that he then turned on the ignition, pulled the starter cord once, the engine started and the trike accelerated forward. He recalled that the trike rolled over the chalks that were in front of the wheels, drug him for about 100 feet before he released the cord, and the trike became airborne. The trike was airborne for several seconds before impacting the rooftop of a hangar and sustaining substantial damage to the wing keel and the control bar. The pilot reported that there were not any pre-accident mechanical failures or anomalies with the trike that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident. The pilot reported that in hind sight, he should have placed the hand throttle to idle before pulling the cord.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:00 PDT
Nearest AirportArlington Muni (0nm NW)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAirborne Redback NO Series
Tail NumberN528PG
Aircraft CategoryWsft
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax · 503 DCDI · Reciprocating · 50
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 73 · Sprt · Minor

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind310° @ 9 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point59 / 46
Altimeter30.06 inHg
Observation Time01:55
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data