ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 263188
This information is added by users of ASN. Neither ASN nor the Flight Safety Foundation are responsible for the completeness or correctness of this information.
If you feel this information is incomplete or incorrect, you can submit corrected information.
| Date: | Friday 28 May 2021 |
| Time: | 10:30 |
| Type: |  Pipistrel Alpha Trainer |
| Owner/operator: | St Croix Lightplanes LLC |
| Registration: | N119JP |
| MSN: | 478 AT 912 LSA |
| Year of manufacture: | 2012 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 616 hours |
| Engine model: | Rotax 912 UL2 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Loveland-Northern Colorado Regional Airport (FNL/KFNL), CO -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Training |
| Departure airport: | Fort Collins/Loveland-Northern Colorado Regional Airport, CO (FNL/KFNL) |
| Fort Collins/Loveland-Northern Colorado Regional Airport, CO (FNL/KFNL) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On May 28, 2021, about 1040 mountain daylight time, a Pipistrel Alpha Trainer, N119JP, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Fort Collins, Colorado. The pilot/airplane owner sustained minor injuries and the flight instructor sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight.
The flight instructor reported that he and the pilot took off in the airplane to conduct a flight review and proceeded to the practice area. They conducted flight review maneuvers, emergency procedures, and the flight instructor demonstrated a power-on stall. The pilot took over the controls and when he added power, the engine did not respond. He manipulated the throttle several times, but the engine had reduced to idle power and would not change. The flight instructor initiated an emergency landing. The airplane descended to a nearby field and touched down. The nosewheel sank into a small ridge and the airplane flipped upside down and slid to a stop.
A postaccident examination of the throttle/choke splitter assembly revealed the single throttle cable, which runs to the cockpit, separated from the throttle/choke cable splitter assembly. A metallurgical examination revealed a lack of solder material where the input throttle cable connects to the terminal end of the splitter assembly. The lack of solder material left a void in the cable connection with the terminal fitting, which allowed the individual cable strands to fail in a progressive manner, until the cable eventually separated from the terminal fitting. A lack of solder was also noted at the output end of the throttle cable connection with the splitter assembly. The choke cable connections were normal.
The airplane maintenance manual indicates that the throttle and control cables need to be replaced every 5 years. In addition, the manual cautions that “all of the time limits…. must be considered when performing the 100 hour/annual inspection. Removal or overhaul of any these items must be entered into the aircraft technical logbook.” There is no logbook entry that explicitly states that the throttle and choke cables were replaced. Therefore, it could not be determined who produced the deficient solder joints or how long they had been in service.
Probable Cause: A partial loss of engine power due to the failure of the throttle control cable, which resulted in the loss of control of the dual carburetor system. The cable failure was a result of improper soldering at the throttle cable input terminal on the splitter assembly, which led to the progressive separation of the cable strands.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/denver.cbslocal.com/2021/05/28/small-plane-crash-northern-colorado-regional-airport/%3famp
NTSB
https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=119JP
https://sustainableaviationproject.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Alpha-Trainer-Arrives-768x576.jpg (photo)
Location
Media:
The plane crashed 12 miles northeast of Northern Colorado Regional Airport, two people were taken to a nearby hospital. https://t.co/8EREYuuNc8
— KRDO NewsChannel 13 (@KRDONC13) May 29, 2021
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 28-May-2021 20:18 | Captain Adam | Added |
| 28-May-2021 22:40 | RobertMB | Updated [Operator] |
| 28-May-2021 22:54 | RobertMB | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Source, Narrative] |
| 29-May-2021 15:31 | Captain Adam | Updated [Total occupants, Embed code, Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
The Aviation Safety Network is an exclusive service provided by:
Quick Links:
| ASN Home | Send Correction / Feedback |
| FSF Home | Disclaimer | Copyright |
| Contact Us | Privacy Policy |
| Press / Media |
CONNECT WITH US:
©2024 Flight Safety Foundation