Adams Donald L DA1 N797A

Summary

On 2 March 2015 at about 16:50 local time, a Adams Donald L DA1 registered N797A was involved in an accident near Sebring, 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

2 March 2015 at 16:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Sebring, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Sebring Rgnl (SEF)

Coordinates

27.4367, -81.3411

Aircraft

Adams Donald L DA1

Registration

N797A

Category

Airplane

Year built

2009

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sebring → Sebring

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA15FA139

1 person died.

A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot, who was also the owner/builder of the experimental amateur-built airplane, had just taken off for a personal flight. Witnesses reported hearing "spitting and sputtering" engine noise as they observed the airplane descending from a low altitude. The pilot subsequently performed an off-airport landing about 1 mile south of the airport. During the landing, the fuel tank was compromised, and a postcrash fire ensued, which destroyed the cockpit and consumed the propeller and all of the fuselage fabric coverings forward of the empennage. Based on this evidence, it is likely that the engine experienced a loss of power shortly after takeoff, which resulted in the need for an off-airport landing. Postaccident examination of the airplane, which included disassembly of its converted 75-horsepower automobile engine, did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures; however, fire damage destroyed the fuel tank, fuel lines, carburetor, and fuel filter. According to a friend of the pilot, the accident flight was the airplane's first flight since it was damaged after experiencing a loss of engine power during takeoff about 2 years before the accident. The airplane's maintenance logbooks were not located, and its maintenance and operational history could not be verified. The reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available evidence. Toxicology testing of the pilot detected several previously unreported medications, and an autopsy identified hypertensive and atherosclerotic heart disease; however, it is unlikely that symptoms from the pilot's heart disease or the effects of any of the detected medications impaired his ability to respond to the emergency.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.