Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the airplane and engine did not reveal any evidence of preimpact malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On October 17, 2016, about 1100 eastern daylight time, a Taylorcraft BC12-D, N94919, was substantially damaged following a total loss of engine power during takeoff and subsequent forced landing at Brook Bridge Aerodrome (8GA9), Vaughn, Georgia. The flight instructor and a student pilot incurred minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local instructional flight. The airplane was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.According to the flight instructor, their intention was to fly the airplane around the traffic pattern for a few touch-and-go landings prior to departing for North Carolina, where the airplane would be hangered. The flight instructor taxied the airplane up and down the runway three times to get himself and the student pilot comfortable with tail wheel handling before takeoff. The flight instructor then taxied to the end of the runway and performed the engine run-up. He stated that shortly after takeoff, approximately 30 feet above ground level, the engine started losing power and seconds later lost all power. The flight instructor tried to land the airplane on the runway, however he "landed hard" and the left main landing gear separated. The left wing tip struck the ground, and the engine compartment and propeller struck the runway before the airplane ground-looped and the right main landing gear separated.
Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the left wing main spar was fractured mid-wing. Both main landing gear were separated. The propeller had one blade bent aft around the engine cowling and the other blade was straight. Examination of the engine did not reveal any obvious mechanical deficiencies.
Review of maintenance records revealed that the airplane's most recent annual inspection was completed on August 28, 2016, at a recorded total airframe time of 2911.3 hours. The engine time since major overhaul was recorded as 62.5 hours.
The recorded weather at Griffin-Spalding County Airport (6A2), located 7 miles to the southeast of 8GA9, at 1055 was, wind 170° at 4 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, temperature 24° Celsius (C), dew point temperature 18° C, altimeter 30.14 inches of mercury.
The temperature and dew point were plotted on the carburetor icing probability chart. Their intersection was within the serious icing range for glide power.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA17LA020