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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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August 18, 2018 · Glasair SHA · N38WS

Greenville, NC

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 18, 2018
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Greenville, NC
Aircraft
Glasair SHA (1985)
Tail Number
N38WS
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ERA18LA224

While the airplane was climbing through 3,000 ft mean sea level (msl), the engine began running roughly and the fuel flow rate slowed. Shortly after reaching 3,500 ft msl, the engine lost total power. The pilot attempted a forced landing at a nearby airport; however, while in a spiral descent to land, he misjudged the airplane’s glidepath and landed in grass short of the runway. The airplane impacted a drainage ditch, resulting in substantial damage. A detailed examination of the engine and components was not conducted and the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

NTSB Probable Cause

A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s misjudgment of the airplane’s glidepath during the forced landing, which resulted in the airplane touching down short of the runway.

Full Narrative

On August 18, 2018, about 1950 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Glasair SH, N38WS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Greenville, North Carolina. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot departed on the cross-country flight and while climbing the airplane through 3,000 ft mean sea level (msl), he noticed that the engine began to run rough; the fuel flow, which was normally “11 to 12, was around 8” gallons per hour. He continued to climb and as he approached 3,500 ft msl, the engine completely “quit.” The pilot spiraled the airplane down to a nearby airport; however, during the last turn to the runway, the airplane was too low. He subsequently landed in the grass short of the runway, where the airplane impacted a drainage ditch before coming to rest. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the main landing gear was collapsed, which damaged the underside of the fuselage and wings. Review of the airplane’s maintenance records revealed that an engine overhaul was completed about 716 flight hours before the accident flight and 90 hours since the last condition inspection. No additional examination of the engine was conducted.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:50 EDT
Nearest AirportPitt-Greenville (1nm SSW)
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftGlasair SHA
Tail NumberN38WS
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320 SERIES · Reciprocating · 160
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 67 · Third Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDusk
WindCalm
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Altimeter29.92 inHg
Observation Time23:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data