Bryant Frederick M RANS S-12 N557BB

Summary

On 11 August 2013 at about 22:00 local time, a Bryant Frederick M RANS S-12 registered N557BB was involved in an accident near Vienna, Maryland, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 August 2013 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Vienna, Maryland, United States

Coordinates

38.3006, -76.0044

Aircraft

Bryant Frederick M RANS S-12

Registration

N557BB

Category

Airplane

Year built

2007

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Vienna → Vienna

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA13LA361

Nobody was injured.

The student pilot’s inadequate control of the airplane, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and subsequent impact with water.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The student pilot reported that, after maneuvering the experimental amateur-built Rans S-12 airplane in flight for several minutes, he banked the airplane right, applied engine power, and increased the airplane's pitch attitude but that "something didn't feel right." The student pilot responded by applying more power; however, the airplane started to descend. He turned the airplane's nose into the wind, applied full power to the engine, and continued to increase the pitch attitude, but the airplane still would not climb. The student pilot then reduced the engine power to idle while continuing to bank right, and the airplane subsequently impacted the water. An examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. According to federal guidance, the Rans S-12 falls under the low-inertia and/or high-drag category, which makes the airplane susceptible to unintentional stalls. When the student pilot banked the airplane right and applied engine power, the airplane likely entered a stall due to the airplane's low-inertia and/or high-drag tendencies.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.