Avid Aircraft FLYER HEAVY HAULER accident near Wendell, North Carolina, May 10, 1992
On May 10, 1992 at about 5:30 pm local time, a Avid Aircraft FLYER HEAVY HAULER, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N613AB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wendell, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE FORWARD SPARK PLUG BY THE OWNER/PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. A FACTOR WAS THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN FOR A FORCED LANDING.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 10, 1992 · about 5:30 pm local time
- Place
- Wendell, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Avid Aircraft FLYER HEAVY HAULER FLYER HEAV, amateur-built
- Registration
- N613AB · registry record · serial 510
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE HAD BEEN REPAIRED BECAUSE OF A CRACK IN THE ROTARY VALVE HOUSING. ON THE FIRST FLIGHT AFTER THE REPAIR, THE ENGINE LOST POWER DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB AFTER TAKE OFF. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN ROUGH, WOODED TERRAIN. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE FORWARD SPARK PLUG WAS LOOSE. EXCESSIVE ANTI SEIZE COMPOUND WAS OBSERVED ON THE SPARK PLUG. NO OTHER ENGINE PROBLEMS WERE NOTED.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 430 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 331 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 6 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, March 27, 1992; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,085 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:51 pm from RDU, 25 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.