Kociemba Robert H T-BIRD II N90458

Summary

On 8 August 2009 at about 11:41 local time, a Kociemba Robert H T-BIRD II registered N90458 was involved in an accident near Keymar, Maryland, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

8 August 2009 at 11:41

Classification

Accident

Location

Keymar, Maryland, United States

Nearest airport

Keymar Airpark (MD42)

Coordinates

39.6094, -77.2439

Aircraft

Kociemba Robert H T-BIRD II

Registration

N90458

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Keymar → Keymar

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09LA448

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed following a total loss of engine power due to fuel contamination.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

Several witnesses observed the experimental, amateur-built airplane in a spin before they lost sight of it when it descended behind a row of trees. Another witness, who heard the engine but did not see the airplane in flight, stated that it sounded like it was "overloaded and struggling." Examination of the airframe revealed severe corrosion on the airframe structural tubing; however, there was no evidence of preimpact mechanical failure. Examination of the two-cylinder engine revealed that the aft cylinder, and the carburetor bowl that supplied fuel to that cylinder, were devoid of fuel, indicative of fuel starvation. Water and particulate contamination was found throughout the fuel system. Fuel sample analysis revealed that the fuel was 92 octane and contained about 9 percent ethanol. The contamination levels were sufficient to result in fuel starvation to one cylinder, and resulted in a complete loss of engine power. The complete loss of power in the rear-mounted engine at low altitude resulted in a pitch-up of the airplane, a reduction of airspeed, and an aerodynamic stall and spin from which the pilot could not recover. About 4 months prior to the accident the engine manufacturer issued guidance allowing for up to 10 percent ethanol blended fuels to be used; however, the owners were urged to confirm with the airframe manufacturer that ethanol blended fuels are allowed. No written guidance by the airframe manufacturer was located concerning the use of ethanol and no entry was located in the airplane maintenance record indicating that any change had been made to the airplane. Postmortem toxicology testing on the pilot was consistent with the use of a short-acting sleep aid the night prior to the accident and recent use of an over-the-counter antihistamine with impairing effects, likely for treatment of seasonal allergy symptoms. The sleep aid was unlikely to have resulted in impairment on the day of the accident, but the antihistamine could have adversely affected the pilot’s actions in response to the loss of power. The pilot did not possess a current airman medical certificate.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.