Accident Avid Flyer Mk IV N392SB, Saturday 10 July 1999

You can contribute by submitting additional or updated information.

Date:	Saturday 10 July 1999
Time:	18:00 LT
Type:	Avid Flyer Mk IV
Owner/operator:	Private
Registration:	N392SB
MSN:	1141D
Year of manufacture:	1995
Total airframe hrs:	237 hours
Engine model:	Rotax 618 UL-DCDI
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Other fatalities:	0
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	New London, WI - United States of America
Phase:	Initial climb
Nature:	Private
Departure airport:	(38WI)
Destination airport:	Eland, WI (KPVT)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Accident investigation report completed and information captured

Narrative:
During the initial climb, at an altitude of approximately 100 feet above ground level (agl), the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot stated that he lowered the nose and made a turn of approximately 45-degrees to the east. The pilot reported that he made a '...hard landing off the runway on [the] airport property that was a level field.' During an examination of the wreckage, no anomalies were found with the airframe or the control systems. The engine started-up and ran without any anomalous behavior. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) maintenance inspector's statement, the engine had experienced a cold seizure due to the engine not being properly warmed-up prior to the takeoff run. According to the pilot's written statement, he also attributed the loss of engine power to a cold seizure of the engine.

Probable Cause: the inadequate preflight planning/preparation by the pilot. Factors to the accident were the powerplant seizing and the misjudged flare by the pilot.

Accident investigation: