History of Flight
On August 19, 2012, about 1155 eastern daylight time, a Daher Socata TB10, N5542Z, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees and a construction dumpster during a forced landing after takeoff from Brookhaven Calabro Airport (HWV), Shirley, New York. The certificated private pilot/owner and a passenger were fatally injured; the pilot-rated passenger, a prospective buyer for the airplane, was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under Part 91.
The flight was a pre-purchase demonstration. The buyer intended to examine maintenance logbooks and then fly in the traffic pattern with the owner. The buyer and his wife met the owner, who insisted on flying before examining the logbooks. The buyer, unfamiliar with the Socata TB10, asked the owner to perform engine start and checks. The owner mentioned that the tachometer was "unreliable." During takeoff, the buyer noted slow acceleration and needed more runway than expected. At 65 knots, he attempted rotation; the airplane lifted off but settled back onto the runway. The owner then took over controls. After liftoff, the airplane could not climb out of ground effect, reached about 150 feet, then "broke to the right and entered a classic stall/spin." The buyer believed he was ejected during the collision and found himself and his wife outside the airplane on fire. Another pilot broadcast over the common traffic advisory frequency to check carburetor heat; the buyer confirmed all engine controls were full forward.
Witnesses described the takeoff roll as slow and anemic, using almost the entire 4,000-foot runway. The airplane climbed slowly to treetop height in a nose-high attitude before disappearing. A witness about 1.5 miles from the airport saw the airplane appear above trees, flying toward him with a loud engine. It descended below his one-story house in a left bank, then pitched up, cleared the house, and struck a tree and construction dumpster, bursting into flames.
Personnel Information
The pilot/owner held a private pilot certificate with single-engine land rating. His most recent FAA third-class medical was issued August 1, 2003, reporting 18 total flight hours. His logbooks were not recovered.
The buyer held a private pilot certificate with single-engine land rating. His most recent FAA third-class medical was issued December 12, 2011. His logbook showed 189.8 total hours, with no time in the accident make and model.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was manufactured in 1991. On June 20, 2012, a ferry permit was issued to relocate it to HWV for annual inspection and maintenance. A mechanic who performed the ferry flight noted no anomalies but stated the tachometer was "intermittent." A handwritten list of discrepancies included item 27: "Carb[uretor] has sediment in bowl – disassemble & clean," which was checked off and billed for 3 hours.
The buyer had previously tried to view the airplane, which was parked for several years. The owner finally responded saying it was at HWV for annual inspection. The owner represented that the inspection was complete and the airplane was airworthy. However, the mechanic stated he did not complete the annual inspection due to a faulty tachometer and a power complaint after a flight on August 16, 2012 (three days before the accident). The mechanic said he made no effort to troubleshoot the power issue because the tachometer was inoperative. A friend who accompanied the owner on that flight said the airplane would not climb properly. A witness to that flight saw the airplane struggling, barely clearing trees, and making a hard landing. The same witness observed the accident flight and noted similar takeoff difficulty.
The mechanic told his lawyer he moved the airplane out of the hangar for the buyer's inspection and told the owner it "should not be flown." He briefed the buyer on the new tachometer at the owner's request. The mechanic said he "never thought" the owner would fly the airplane. After the accident, the buyer's camera tripod was found in the owner's pickup truck; the buyer said he placed it next to the logbooks on a work table in the hangar before the flight.
Meteorological Information
Weather at HWV at 1156 included clear skies, visibility 10 miles, temperature 23°C, dewpoint 14°C, altimeter 29.97 inHg, wind from 140° at 7 knots.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane was largely consumed by post-crash fire. It struck a tree and a commercial construction dumpster. Video footage showed the airplane inverted on top of the dumpster; as fire progressed, remains fell into the dumpster. The cockpit and engine fell to the street, inverted. Control cable continuity was established. The cockpit was severely damaged by fire. The engine compartment forward of the firewall had minor fire damage. The mixture control cable was disconnected from the carburetor mixture control arm; the cable had light soot but no damage, and the cable grip hardware was undamaged with the grip hole open.
The engine was recovered and examined. Continuity was established through the powertrain and valvetrain. Compression was confirmed on all cylinders except No. 1 due to impact damage. The magneto produced spark at all leads. The engine-driven fuel pump pumped fluid. The carburetor showed heat damage to floats but no evidence of pre-impact mechanical deficiency. The mixture control cable was sectioned and sent to the NTSB Materials Laboratory.
Medical and Pathological Information
Toxicological testing on the pilot detected nicotine and cotanine in blood and urine. Carbon monoxide concentration was 12 percent, within the range for heavy smokers; the pilot was also exposed to post-crash fire. An autopsy determined the cause of death as multiple blunt force and thermal injuries.
Tests and Research
On April 12, 2013, an NTSB Senior Materials Engineer examined the carburetor mixture control arm and cable section. The cable had experienced clamping and sliding forces during service. The minimum cable diameter was 0.001 inch less than the clamping space between the washer and bolt shoulder as found at the crash site.