History of Flight
On August 27, 2018, about 1215 central daylight time, an Airtime Aircraft, Inc., Cygnet weight-shift-controlled aircraft, registration N186AT, was substantially damaged when it impacted water near Pensacola Beach, Florida. The student pilot, who was the owner of the aircraft, was fatally injured. The aircraft was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight, which had departed about 1205.
The pilot had completed his first flight in about one year the day before the accident, flying with a flight instructor. According to the instructor, the pilot performed well during that flight. On the day of the accident, the pilot and instructor flew together for about two hours, completing over 20 touch-and-go landings on the water of Santa Rosa Sound, as well as stalls, steep turns, and spiral recovery. The instructor reported that the pilot was flying "perfectly" and was prepared for his first solo flight. They landed near the shore, and the instructor exited the aircraft. The instructor instructed the pilot to perform several left rectangular patterns at 500 ft above ground level (agl) with subsequent water landings and takeoffs, reminding him that he had "200 less pounds in the back seat."
From a ground observation point, the instructor watched the aircraft depart westbound, perpendicular to the shore. The takeoff and climb appeared normal, with normal engine power sounds. However, as the airplane established on downwind at about 400 to 500 ft agl, the instructor observed the left wing drop rapidly to about 35°, followed by a quick right wing drop to about 60°. The aircraft then turned back to the left and entered a left descending spiral that continued until it impacted the water.
Aircraft Information
According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the two-place, weight-shift control aircraft received a special airworthiness certificate in the light sport category on June 1, 2016. The aircraft was equipped with floats for water operations and retractable tricycle landing gear for land operations.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The wreckage floated about one mile from the accident location before recovery. The left wing strut and left leading edge tube were fractured and bent in several places. The fuselage was deformed, and the left float was ruptured. The right float remained intact, keeping the aircraft afloat. All structural components and flight control cables were accounted for. The haul back cable remained attached, and all tension and control wires were mounted correctly. The control bar was intact and connected to the keel post, functioning as designed.
The engine remained attached to the fuselage, and all three propeller blades were uniformly broken off five inches from the propeller hub. The carburetors were attached and showed no anomalies. Spark plugs were secured and displayed minimal wear. Thumb compression and suction on all cylinders were confirmed when the engine was rotated. All valves, pushrods, and springs operated normally, with smooth rotation and no abnormal noise or friction. The pistons appeared well-lubricated, and no interior engine damage was found. Examination of the engine and airframe revealed no preimpact mechanical failures or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy conducted by the State of Florida, Office of the Medical Examiner, District I, determined the cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries. Hypertensive and atherosclerotic heart disease was identified. The heart weighed 610 grams (average for a 260-lb man is 425 grams with a range of 322-561 grams). However, the autopsy report did not describe wall thickness or chamber size. The left anterior descending coronary artery was 100% occluded by atherosclerosis, and the circumflex artery was 40-50% stenosed; the right coronary artery was widely patent. No gross scarring of the myocardium was described, and no microscopy of the heart was performed. No other significant natural disease was noted.
Toxicological testing by the FAA Forensic Sciences Research Laboratory identified naproxen, an over-the-counter analgesic that is not impairing. All other results were negative for carbon monoxide, ethanol, and all tested-for drugs and their metabolites.