NTSB Identification: NYC00LA176

                           Accident occurred JUN-22-00 at FREDERICKSBURG, VA
                           Aircraft: Schwarz AVID AMPHIBIAN, registration: N61HS 
                                          Injuries: 1 Minor. 

 This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any
errors in this report will be corrected when the final report
                                         has been completed.

On June 22, 2000, about 1530 Eastern Daylight Time, a homebuilt Avid Amphibian,
N61HS, was substantially damaged after it experienced a
partial loss of engine power, during the initial climb after takeoff from the Shannon
Airport (EZF), Fredericksburg, Virginia. The certificated
commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed
and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight
conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In a telephone interview, the pilot said that about 1
1/2 to 2 weeks prior to accident, he removed the
airplane's engine, propeller, alternator and magnetos to check wiring located beneath
the airplane's instrument panel. After reassembling the
components, he performed a successful engine ground test run-up, and a 30 minute test
flight. During the test flight, the pilot noticed the
engine RPM consistently went beyond the red line limit. After landing he confirmed
that the propeller, which was an IVRO Magnum, ground
adjustable propeller, was set to the same pitch prior to it's removal. On the day of
the accident, the pilot adjusted the propeller pitch an
additional 5 degrees to keep the RPM within limits. He then performed a normal ground
run-up at EZF, and departed Runway 24 for a test
flight. The pilot stated that the takeoff was normal and the engine sounded "smooth."
After reaching an altitude of about 300 to 400 feet
(AGL), the airplane experienced a sharp reduction in power. The RPM dropped from
6,600 to 5,700. The engine sound remained constant.
The pilot pulled back the throttle and then advanced the throttle forward. The engine
RPM increased momentarily then dropped to about
5,000 RPM. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude and performed a forced landing
to a field. The pilot noted that the engine continued to
run smoothly at the lower RPM, and at no time did the engine "sputter or cough."
According to the pilot, the airplane had been operated
about 290 hours. The airplane's engine, an Aero GT-1000, had been operated about 280
to 285 hours. Initial examination of the airplane by a
Federal Aviation Administration inspector did not revealed any airframe or engine
malfunctions. The airplane will be examined further at a
later date. 

Index for Jun 2000 | Index of Months 

Anybody know what an Aero GT 1000 is?

Paul Lamar
 
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