Cgs HAWK AERO II N4513S

Summary

On 3 September 2016 at about 22:30 local time, a Cgs HAWK AERO II registered N4513S was involved in an accident near Holland, Michigan, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 September 2016 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Holland, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Park Township Airport (HLM)

Coordinates

42.7967, -86.1617

Aircraft

Cgs HAWK AERO II

Registration

N4513S

Category

Airplane

Year built

2001

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Holland → Holland

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN16LA363

1 person was seriously injured.

The improper installation of quick release connectors in the fuel lines, which was not in accordance with the engine manufacturer's maintenance instructions and allowed air to be introduced into the fuel system and resulted in a partial loss of engine power. Also causal to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed and exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with power lines.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot stated that the experimental light sport airplane experienced a partial loss of engine power during climb after takeoff about 80 to100 ft above ground level. The airplane entered an aerodynamic stall, so the pilot decreased the pitch attitude to recover, but the airplane then impacted power lines. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed numerous items that had not been performed in accordance with the engine manufacturer's maintenance instructions, one of which was the correct installation of a quick release connector in the fuel lines. When the quick release connector was tested, it leaked a substantial amount of air into the fuel system; therefore, it is likely that air entered the fuel system during the flight and resulted in the partial loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.