Amateur-built TEAM AIRBIKE accident near Ocean Springs, Mississippi, October 11, 2017
On October 11, 2017 at about 2:00 pm local time, a 2005 amateur-built TEAM AIRBIKE, registered N7566D, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Ocean Springs, Mississippi (Ocean Springs airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An intermittent failure of the power take-off cylinder ignition coil, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 11, 2017 · about 2:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ocean Springs, Mississippi · Ocean Springs · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built TEAM AIRBIKE, built 2005
- Registration
- N7566D · no longer on the register · serial AB000154
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During a prebuy inspection flight, the airline transport pilot reduced engine power to test the airplane's slow-speed handling characteristics. He then increased the throttle to restore full engine power, but the engine seemed to "bog down" and lose power. He then lowered the airplane's nose, and engine power was restored. The pilot then chose to return to the airport, and while on approach, the engine again began to lose power, but lowering the airplane's nose did not increase the rpm this time. The pilot realized the airplane would be unable to reach the airport, so he conducted an off-airport landing in a residential area, during which the airplane impacted a fence. A postaccident engine run revealed that, after running at various power settings, when the power was reduced, the engine bogged down and backfired through the power takeoff (PTO) carburetor, and the rpm would not increase. The PTO cylinder ignition coil was replaced with a serviceable coil, and the engine was restarted for several minutes and run through various power setting. The engine accelerated normally without backfiring, hesitating, or stumbling. It is likely that, during the accident flight, the PTO cylinder ignition coil broke down, which resulted in an intermittent spark at the PTO spark plug and a partial loss of engine power.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Ignition system › Ignition power supply › Malfunction
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Fence/fence post › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,000 hours in all; 0.3 in this make and model
- Last flight review: February 18, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 79 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 11, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 560 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 10 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 5R2 Ocean Springs MS at 1:45 pm
- Destination: 5R2 Ocean Springs MS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 3,500 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 1:56 pm from KBIX, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on February 12, 2018. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Video 1 - Engine Run - Bogged Down and Backfiring (Shelf Item) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Video 2 - Engine Run - with Serviceable Pto Ignition Coil (Shelf Item) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.