Labarge TITAN TORNADO I UNREG
24 September 2003 · Charlton, Massachusetts, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 24 September 2003 at about 14:00 local time, a Labarge TITAN TORNADO I registered UNREG was involved in an accident near Charlton, Massachusetts, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 14:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Charlton, Massachusetts, United States
- Nearest airport
- Dresser Hill Airport (MA30)
- Coordinates
- 42.1175, -71.9700
- Aircraft
- Labarge TITAN TORNADO I
- Registration
- UNREG
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Charlton → Unknown
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- NYC03LA204
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
A seizure of the forward piston during the initial climb.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The non-certificated pilot was attempting his first flight in an uncertificated experimental airplane, with an uncertificated engine. The pilot had recently completed construction of the airplane, and prior to the accident flight, the engine had accumulated 7 hours of operation. Before the accident takeoff, the pilot let the engine warm up for 10 minutes while taxiing on the runway. The airplane then took off uneventfully. About 1,000 feet agl, the engine lost all power, and the pilot performed a forced landing into trees. Examination of the engine revealed scoring in the forward piston and cylinder, and the location of the scoring was consistent with a cold seizure. The engine was subsequently test run on the accident airplane with no difficulties.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 Aug 2003 | Beechcraft 1900D | Yarmouth, Massachusetts, United States | Colgan Air Inc. | Fatal | 2 |
| 7 May 2003 | Bombardier CL-600-2B19 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 25 Jan 2003 | Robinson R-22B | Pittsfield, Massachusetts, United States | Robert C. Herr | No injuries | - |
| 4 Oct 2003 | Boeing 737 | Boston, Massachusetts, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 19 Jun 2003 | Aviat A-1 | Tyringham, Massachusetts, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 25 Jul 2003 | Piper PA-32R-301 | Newburyport, Massachusetts, United States | - | No injuries | - |