Cupaiole RV-6A N84KM

Summary

On 3 April 2010 at about 16:15 local time, a Cupaiole RV-6A registered N84KM, operated by Micahel Cupaiole, was involved in an accident near West Palm Beach, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 April 2010 at 16:15

Classification

Accident

Location

West Palm Beach, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Palm Beach County Park Airport (LNA)

Coordinates

26.5931, -80.0850

Aircraft

Cupaiole RV-6A

Registration

N84KM

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Micahel Cupaiole

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

West Palm Beach → Pahokee

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA10LA205

1 person died.

The total loss of engine power and the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and spin. The reason for the loss of power could not be determined.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses reported that the pilot of the experimental, amateur-built airplane was working on the engine's alternator and then planned to fly from his home airport, to an airport about 30 miles away, to purchase fuel. Shortly after takeoff, witnesses heard the engine noise cease. The airplane then stalled and entered a spin, descending nose-down into a lake, about 1/8 mile east of the departure airport. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that both fuel tanks were compromised during impact and had been filled with water. The quantity of fuel, if any, in the fuel tanks prior to impact could not be determined; the airplane's last fueling could not be verified. The examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. Toxicology results indicated that the pilot had used marijuana and an over-the-counter antihistamine. The condition of the samples tested did not permit accurate determination of when the substances might have most recently been used or whether the pilot may have been impaired by their use.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.