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| Date: | Saturday 15 April 2023 |
| Time: | 10:39 |
| Type: |  Velocity 173 FG |
| Owner/operator: | Bentley Velocity LLC |
| Registration: | N2357 |
| MSN: | FGA-001 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1996 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 197 hours |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Andrews-Western Carolina Regional Airport (KRHP), Andrews, NC -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Andrews-Western Carolina Regional Airport, NC (KRHP) |
| Andrews-Western Carolina Regional Airport, NC (KRHP) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
On April 15, 2023, about 1039 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Velocity, N2357, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Andrews, North Carolina. The commercial pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
The owner recently purchased the experimental amateur-built, modified airplane. He did not have a lot of experience in the make and model airplane, so he hired the accident pilot to conduct the first flight since recent modifications.
Witness statements and recorded video showed that during the takeoff roll from the 5,500-ftlong asphalt runway, the airplane accelerated slower than normal, used more runway than normal, and lifted off the runway in a nose-high attitude. The airplane then descended back to the runway and bounced before lifting off nose-high again toward the end of the runway. It climbed about 300 ft above ground level while flying a left traffic pattern back to the runway. Near the crosswind to downwind turn, the engine sounded loud, and the airplane descended into a wooded field and a postimpact fire ensued.
The owner stated that the engine was equipped with a fixed-pitch cruise propeller. With the turbocharger engaged, the engine would produce 2,300 rpm; however, with the turbocharger bypassed, the engine would only produce about 2,050 rpm. A spring switch in the cockpit controlled the turbocharger wastegate, to select whether the turbocharger was engaged or bypassed (or midrange). The owner added that, at 2,050 rpm, the airplane would not be able to fly with one pilot and full fuel, which it had for the accident takeoff. The owner reported that he discussed the turbocharger operation with the pilot.
Examination of the wreckage revealed that the turbocharger wastegate was found in an open position. No other anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely that the pilot had inadvertently bypassed the turbocharger and then attempted to continue the takeoff with the with the engine only developing partial power. His decision to continue, rather than reject the takeoff, resulted in the airplane’s subsequent powered descent and collision with terrain.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to engage the turbocharger for takeoff and his improper decision to continue the takeoff with partial power, rather than reject the takeoff.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
https://wlos.com/news/local/plane-crash-deadly-andrews-cherokee-county-western-north-carolina-kills-one-person-pilot-dead-state-highway-patrol-faa-investigation
https://www.foxcarolina.com/2023/04/15/officials-respond-fatal-north-carolina-plane-crash/
https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107060
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=2357
https://www.velocityaircraft.com/
Location
Media:
NTSB investigating the April 15 crash of Homebuilt Velocity aircraft near Andrews, North Carolina.
— NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) April 15, 2023
#UPDATE FROM NTSB
— Samiar Nefzi (@samiarnefzitv) April 15, 2023
“The preliminary information available currently is that a Homebuilt Velocity aircraft impacted a field on departure from Western Carolina Regional Airport near Andrews, North Carolina.” @WLOS_13 https://t.co/GH10P6TmSd
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 15-Apr-2023 20:37 | Captain Adam | Added |
| 05-Jun-2024 21:45 | Captain Adam | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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