Accident Pipistrel Sinus 912 N331AV,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 228453
 
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Date:Thursday 22 August 2019
Time:20:45
Type:Silhouette image of generic PISI model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Pipistrel Sinus 912
Owner/operator:San Antonio Light Sport Aircraft Inc
Registration: N331AV
MSN: 736 SFN 912 LSA
Year of manufacture:2015
Engine model:Rotax
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Category:Accident
Location:near Oxford, Sumter County, FL -   United States of America
Phase: Landing
Nature:Private
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
The pilot reported that he was building hours in the powered-glider to prepare for his glider instructor rating examination. He departed the airport with power and climbed to the west to chase thermals. After the powered-glider reached 4,000 ft above ground level (agl), he shut down the engine, left the battery power on, and continued to climb to 4,500 ft agl. After 30 minutes, he attempted to restart the engine, but the starter only cranked the engine briefly, and the propeller travelled one full revolution and then stopped. After another unsuccessful engine start attempt and with the glider too far away to glide back to the airport, the pilot located a field for a forced landing. During the landing roll, the main landing gear wheels dug into the soft field, and the powered-glider nosed over and then came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the engine mount truss. Postaccident examination of the powered-glider revealed that the single battery was depleted to a level that was insufficient to power the starter during the engine restart sequence. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
 

Probable Cause: The pilot’s continued use of battery power during a nonpowered flight in a powered-glider, which depleted the battery to a level that was insufficient to power the starter during the engine restart sequence and resulted in a forced landing to a soft field and a subsequent nose-over.
 


Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: GAA19CA505
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 10 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB
FAA register: https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=331AV

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
23-Aug-2019 20:33 RobertMB Added
01-Jul-2020 07:01 ASN Update Bot Updated [Time, Source, Damage, Narrative, Accident report, ]

Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description

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