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On September 5, 2009, about 0940 eastern daylight time, an experimental light sport M-Squared Sprint 1000
HISTORY OF FLIGHT Use your browsers 'back' function to return to synopsisReturn to Query Page
On September 5, 2009, about 0940 eastern daylight time, an experimental light sport M-Squared Sprint 1000, N185SQ, was destroyed when it impacted water in Madeira Beach, Florida. The certificated private pilot and the pilot-rated passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight that originated at Lake Seminole, Seminole, Florida. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
According to the county sheriff's incident report, one witness, a kayaker in the area, observed the airplane flying in his vicinity before landing on the water. It then water-taxied for several minutes before taking off again. The witness subsequently saw the airplane climb to about 200 to 300 feet before hearing a "pop" and seeing the airplane head straight down and impact the water.
Another witness also heard a "pop," then looked up to see the airplane "plunging toward the water" from an altitude of 300 feet. A third witness also heard the pop, and saw the airplane "nose dive" into the water. Two other witnesses observed the airplane and saw "something" happen to the airplane's propeller, then observed that parts "came off" the engine area. They then saw a parachute start to deploy before the airplane impacted the water.
In their statements, none of the witnesses indicated the presence of birds in the vicinity of the accident site.
The owner of the company that recovered the airplane from the water stated that a number of people had told him that they heard the engine "rev" before the crash.
Following the accident, the airplane was moved to a facility where a Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined it. The inspector did not provide written results of his examination; however, he did provide some photographs and noted that the airplane's ballistic parachute system had deployed, but at a low altitude, and that the propeller and gearbox were never recovered.
The inspector also provided excerpts from the pilot and aircraft logbooks, and sales receipts for the airplane, as well as engine and gearbox parts.
- Airplane History -
According to FAA records, the airplane was manufactured in 2001, but not initially registered. The president of M-Squared reported that the airplane was delivered to the original owner powered by a Rotax 582 engine, driving a three-bladed pusher propeller.
FAA records indicated that the owner registered the airplane in the experimental light-sport category on January 14, 2008. The application listed 515 total airframe hours at that time and indicated that the airplane was then powered by a Hirth 3701 engine, driving a four-bladed Warp Drive composite pusher propeller.
According to the aircraft logbook, on January 14, 2008, the airplane underwent a condition inspection by a certificated airframe and powerplant mechanic with inspector authorization, "for the purpose of LSA [light sport aircraft] Conversion from 'Ultra-Light'" and was found "in airworthy and serviceable condition acceptable for issuance of an LSA airworthiness certificate." Another logbook entry on that date indicated that the next inspection was due no later than February 1, 2009; however, there were no additional entries noted in the logbook.
A receipt revealed that on February 11, 2008, the owner purchased from the engine distributor, among other items, an engine assembly kit, a gearbox assembly kit, and a used coupler flange (gearbox side).
An FAA Aircraft Bill of Sale revealed that on March 13, 2008, the airplane was sold to a second individual.
Another sales receipt indicated that the second owner sold the airplane to a third individual on November 22, 2008. There was no FAA Aircraft Bill of Sale, nor was there a change of registration noted in the FAA aircraft data base. The third owner stated that he had bought the airplane as parts from the widow of the second owner.
According to an associate of the third owner, the associate contacted the Hirth engine distributer at Sun 'n Fun in April 2009, because the engine had a compression problem with one or two of the cylinders. The engine distributor then took the engine to his facility for warranty repair.
A receipt, dated July 7, 2009, indicated that the third owner and the associate purchased from the engine distributor, among other items, a used 3.33 ratio gear set with installation kit, a large prop shaft seal, a prop shaft bearing, and a top end gasket set.
The third owner and the associate recalled that the engine was returned to the owner's place of work in a shipping container, and was subsequently installed on the airplane by a group of individuals.
According to the engine distributor, the engine would have been shipped with the gearbox in the up position, as otherwise it would not fit in a shipping container. The gearbox and adapter plate would have needed to be rotated 180 degrees, to the "hanging" position, to put the thrust line below the engine.
A sales receipt, dated August 17, 2009, indicated that the third owner sold the airplane to the accident pilot. The third owner noted on the sales receipt, in part, "I sel