Richard Lacourse WHEELER EXPRESS N564ER

Summary

On 11 February 2015 at about 21:33 local time, a Richard Lacourse WHEELER EXPRESS registered N564ER was involved in an accident near Kersey, Colorado, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 February 2015 at 21:33

Classification

Accident

Location

Kersey, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Greeley-Weld County (GXY)

Coordinates

40.3417, -104.5592

Aircraft

Richard Lacourse WHEELER EXPRESS

Registration

N564ER

Category

Airplane

Year built

2013

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Greeley → Denver

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN15FA141

2 people died.

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during an off-airport forced landing following a total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examination of the engine. Contributing to the accident was the pilots' decision to conduct the flight with known mechanical deficiencies.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot/owner of the experimental amateur-built airplane and an airline transport pilot-rated passenger arrived at an airport, and a mechanic heard the engine backfiring and "missing." The pilots subsequently stated to the mechanic that they had been experiencing problems with the engine. The mechanic offered that his boss could look at the engine, but the pilots did not want to wait. The mechanic accompanied the pilots to the airplane, and helped them start it with auxiliary power. They then realized the starter solenoid was not engaging the starter. About 10 minutes later, the pilot requested a jumper wire to bypass the the starter solenoid in order to start the engine. The engine started, and, as the airplane taxied for takeoff, the mechanic noted that the engine was still running rough. A witness, who was located about 3/4 mile from the accident location, reported hearing the airplane's engine "sputtering." When the airplane flew over about 200-300 ft above ground level, the engine was running rough and occasionally "missing." He then heard the engine stop running and saw the airplane subsequently descend about 30° nose-low into an open field at high speed. There was an immediate postimpact fire. An examination of the airplane, engine, and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies. The pilot had not completed a flight review in over 7 years; had not logged any flight time in the 2 years before the accident; and his recency of flight experience, including the last time he may have practiced emergency procedures, could be determined. Although the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined during postaccident examination, the high-speed, nose-low impact is consistent with a loss of airplane control.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.