Littlefield, TX, USA
N678TW
AEROTRIKE SAFARI
The airport manager found the accident aircraft shortly after he arrived at the airport the morning of the accident. He did not observe any portion of the accident flight and was uncertain of the exact time of the accident. A postaccident examination of the aircraft did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a preimpact failure or malfunction. The pilot of the accident aircraft did not hold any Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) pilot, mechanic, or repairman certificates, nor had he ever applied for or been issued an FAA medical certificate. An acquaintance of the pilot, who had also flown the aircraft, noted that the weight-shift-control trike was more difficult to fly than he had expected. He reportedly told the pilot that he should not fly the aircraft. He also noted that the pilot had not received any flight training in the make/model of the accident aircraft; however, the pilot reportedly informed him that he was planning to obtain flight instruction. The investigation obtained no record of the pilot's flight experience or of the aircraft's maintenance history. The pilot exhibited localized scarring of the heart muscle that was likely not recent based on the absence of inflammation; the enlarged heart was consistent with chronic high blood pressure. The effect that either of these conditions might have had on the pilot during the accident flight, if any, could not be determined. The extent of coronary artery disease was mild and likely not an issue in the accident. Cyclobenzaprine, which was present in the operator's blood and is commonly used to treat muscle spasms, can cause sedation; however, accident risk with chronic use of the medication has not been well studied. As a result, the investigation could not determine whether this medication was impairing at the time of the accident. Metoprolol, detected in the pilot's blood and commonly used to treat high blood pressure, angina, or heart arrhythmias, rarely produces significant cognitive impairment and was likely not a factor in the accident. The presence of hydrocodone and its metabolites in urine samples, although not at reportable levels in blood samples, suggested a distant use of the medication and no ongoing impairment.
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On April 9, 2014, about 0830 central daylight time, an Aerotrike Safari experimental light sport aircraft, N678TW, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain after takeoff from runway 19 (4,021 feet by 60 feet, asphalt) at the Littlefield Taylor Brown Municipal Airport (LIU), Littlefield, Texas. The pilot sustained fatal injuries. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was operated without a flight plan. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.The LIU airport manager stated he found the aircraft about 0850 shortly after he had arrived at the airport that morning. He did not observe any portion of the accident flight and was uncertain of the exact time of the accident. There were no known witnesses to the accident flight. PERSONNEL INFORMATION Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records contained no record of the accident pilot ever applying for or being issued any pilot or medical certificates. In addition, there was no record of the accident pilot ever applying for or being issued a mechanic or repairman certificate. An individual who shared a hangar with the accident pilot noted the accident pilot had been interested in "trikes" for years. The accident pilot reportedly did not have any "hands on" training; however, he was planning to obtain some flight training. A few days before the accident, the pilot was observed taxing the accident aircraft up and down the runway. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The accident aircraft was a weight shift control, two place, light sport Aerotrike. The aircraft was issued an experimental light sport airworthiness certificate in August 2007. The application for the airworthiness certificate indicated the manufactured/build year as 2001. It noted a total airframe flight time of 104 hours had accumulated at the time of application. The operating limitations issued with the airworthiness certificate required the pilot in command to hold a properly endorsed student pilot certificate, or a sport or recreational pilot certificate with the appropriate ratings. (FAA regulations do not require a pilot to hold a medical certificate in order to operate a light sport aircraft.) The accident pilot reportedly purchased the aircraft about three weeks before the accident flight. However, FAA records did not include any documentation of the transfer of ownership. No maintenance records were obtained by the NTSB during the course of the investigation. The individual who shared a hangar with the accident pilot reported that he had personally flown the accident aircraft. He noted that the aircraft did not lift off at the speeds he expected, but "popped" off the ground at a somewhat higher speed. He flew around the traffic pattern and landed safely. However, he noted the aircraft was not easy to fly in his opinion, and informed the accident pilot that he should not fly the aircraft. He reported that the engine performed normally at that time. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION Weather conditions recorded by the Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport (LBB) Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS), located about 33 miles southeast of the accident site, at 0853, were: few clouds at 30,000 feet above ground level, wind from 240 degrees at 7 knots, temperature 13 degrees Celsius, dew point -3 degrees Celsius, altimeter 30.16 inches of mercury. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The accident aircraft came to rest about 200 feet off the left side of runway 19, in an area of grass and low brush. It came to rest upright. The cart structural tubing was deformed and separated consistent with impact forces. The wing remained attached to the cart pivot support. The wing structure was deformed at the cart attachment, but appeared to be otherwise intact. The wing fabric also appeared to be intact. The engine and propeller assembly remained secured to the airframe and appeared undamaged. A postaccident examination conducted by FAA inspectors did not reveal any anomalies consistent with a preimpact failure or malfunction. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION An autopsy of the pilot was performed on April 10, 2014. The pilot's death was attributed to injuries sustained as a result of the accident. The autopsy report noted scarring of the heart muscle on the posterior left ventricular wall (myocardial scarring), mild coronary artery disease with 20-percent or less occlusion of the major arteries, and an enlarged heart (cardiomegaly). Microscopic examination related to the myocardial scarring did not reveal any evidence of acute or subacute inflammation. The FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute forensic toxicology report stated: No CARBON MONOXIDE detected in Blood; No ETHANOL detected in Vitreous; Cyclobenzaprine detected in Liver; 0.019 (ug/mL, ug/g) Cyclobenzaprine detected in Blood; 0.048 (ug/mL, ug/g) Dihydrocodeine detected in Urine; Dihydrocodeine NOT detected in Blood; 0.223 (ug/ml, ug/g) Hydrocodone detected in Urine; Hydrocodone NOT detected in Blood; 0.033 (ug/mL, ug/g) Hydromorphone detected in Urine; Hydromorphone NOT detected in Blood; Metoprolol detected in Liver; Metoprolol detected in Blood; Norcyclobenzaprine detected in Liver; 0.011 (ug/mL, ug/g) Norcyclobenzaprine detected in Blood. Cyclobenzaprine is commonly used to treat muscle spasms. Hydrocodone is a narcotic analgesic. Both medications can have sedating effects. Metoprolol is commonly prescribed to treat high blood pressure, angina, or heart arrhythmias.
The non-certificated pilot's in-flight loss of control for reasons that could not be determined from the available evidence.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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