Trella T-21 N450C

Summary

On 17 June 2019 at about 15:25 local time, a Trella T-21 registered N450C was involved in an accident near Endicott, New York, 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

17 June 2019 at 15:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Endicott, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Tri Cities Airport (CZG)

Coordinates

42.0844, -76.0944

Aircraft

Trella T-21

Registration

N450C

Category

Airplane

Year built

1949

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Endicott → Endicott

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA19FA196

1 person died.

A partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined, and the pilot's subsequent exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during an attempted return to the runway, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin at an altitude that precluded recovery.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to a witness, the pilot of the experimental, amateur-built airplane had completed one takeoff and landing in the airport traffic pattern. Following the second takeoff, at an altitude about 300 ft above ground level, the witness heard the engine "pop." The airplane remained in a nose-high attitude as it entered a steep left turn as if to return toward the runway; the witness stated that the airplane then spiraled toward the ground. Another witness stated that he heard the accident airplane's engine power decrease as it climbed through about 300 ft after takeoff and the airplane subsequently entered a descending left turn before disappearing behind trees. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation, and there was no evidence of fuel contamination. All major components of the airplane were located at the accident site, and flight control continuity was established from the cockpit to all flight control surfaces. Review of the airplane's logbook and a witness account indicated that, about 1 year before the accident, the pilot had experienced aerodynamic flutter of the rudders on at least two occasions and made subsequent airframe modifications as a result; however, there was no evidence to indicate that this contributed to the accident. The airplane's steep descent before impact and the limited wreckage distribution at the accident site were consistent with an aerodynamic stall/spin. It is possible that the pilot may have experienced a partial loss of engine power or other engine anomaly (based on the witness statements) and, in response, attempted to complete a 180° turn back to the runway. During the turn, the pilot exceeded the airplane's critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall/spin and a loss of control. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.