Amateur-built VELOCITY HXB accident near Savannah, Georgia, December 22, 1992
On December 22, 1992 at about 10:34 pm local time, a amateur-built VELOCITY HXB, registered N8101S, was substantially damaged in an accident near Savannah, Georgia. 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
THE DISENGAGEMENT OF THE IDLER GEAR, WHICH INTERRUPTED FUEL PUMP OPERATION, AND RESULTED IN THE TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. FACTORS WERE THE LACK OF SUITABLE TERRAIN AND THE WATER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 22, 1992 · about 10:34 pm local time
- Place
- Savannah, Georgia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built VELOCITY HXB VELOCITY H
- Registration
- N8101S · registry record · serial DM085
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE ENGINE QUIT DURING CRUISE FLIGHT, AT 6500 FEET, WHILE THE PILOT WAS OPERATING VFR ON TOP. AFTER DESCENDING BELOW THE CLOUDS HE OBSERVED SWAMPY TERRAIN AND THE SAVANNAH RIVER. THE AIRPLANE WAS LANDED IN THE RIVER AND INCURRED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT WAS RECOVERED BY A COAST GUARD HELICOPTER. SUBSEQUENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE IDLER GEAR HAD DISENGAGED FROM THE CRANKSHAFT GEAR. THE HEAD OF THE BOLT THAT SECURED THE IDLER GEAR WAS FOUND IN THE OIL SUMP. ITS ASSOCIATED WASHER WAS NOT FOUND.
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: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 600 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 530 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, December 19, 1992; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RUQ Salisbury NC at 9:30 pm
- Destination: MLB Melbourne FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 2,400 ft; clear
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:51 pm from SAV, 5 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.