Shaffstall KOLB FIRESTAR II N40737

Summary

On 6 May 2008 at about 15:30 local time, a Shaffstall KOLB FIRESTAR II registered N40737, operated by Stephen M. Hendry, was involved in an accident near Concord, North Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 May 2008 at 15:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Concord, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Buffalo Creek Airport (4NC8)

Coordinates

35.4222, -80.6206

Aircraft

Shaffstall KOLB FIRESTAR II

Registration

N40737

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Stephen M. Hendry

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Concord → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC08LA063

1 person was seriously injured.

A loss of engine power for an undetermined reason, which resulted in a forced landing and collision with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was originally built and marketed as a kit built, two seat ultralight aircraft with a tubular frame and fabric-covered wings, but it was registered to the builder in 1995 as an airplane, and an "N" number was issued. The FAA's airplane registry still has the builder listed as owner, with a sale reported to another party, but not to the pilot. The pilot told an FAA inspector that he bought the airplane as a "no regulation" aircraft on E Bay. He assembled the airplane, installed a single seat, and rebuilt the Rotax engine about 30 hours before the accident. The airplane did not have a current registration, nor an airworthiness certificate. As part of the pilot's preflight before the accident flight, he drained and refilled the fuel tank. He then ran the engine, on the ground, for about 30 minutes. He then departed for one turn around the airport traffic pattern, and landed. He rechecked the engine and decided to depart for his intended destination. The pilot said that he just turned out from the local traffic pattern about 700 feet above the ground when the engine lost power. He tried to turn back toward the airport, but the airplane's glide capabilities were poor. He attempted to land on a nearby road, but the airplane descended in a steep, nose-down attitude, and collided with the ground in the front yard of a residence. FAA personnel, nor the pilot determined why the engine lost power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.