What happened
On July 28, 2025, at approximately 16:24 EDT, an Orlican M-8 Eagle, registration N974FL, was involved in an accident near Lake Worth Beach, Florida. The aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for a flight test following maintenance work.
The pilot/owner had brought the aircraft to the United States to undergo maintenance, which included the installation of a new propeller. The purpose of the flight was to calibrate the new propeller with the pilot/owner and a flight instructor on board. Shortly after departing runway 10 at Palm Beach County Park Airport (LNA) in West Palm Beach, the aircraft experienced a total loss of engine power approximately one minute into the flight.
The crew performed a forced landing onto a roadway near a park. During the landing sequence, the airplane struck a tree and a vehicle. The impact caused substantial damage to the engine mount, empennage, fuselage, and both wings. The accident resulted in one minor injury to the flight instructor and five minor injuries to individuals on the ground; the private pilot was not injured.
The investigation
Post-accident examination of the aircraft revealed that approximately 27 gallons of 100LL aviation fuel remained in the wing tanks. Documentation and photographs indicated that the electric fuel pump, avionics, and strobe switches were all in the ON position at the time of the accident. The aircraft was retained for further examination.