Amateur-built I accident near Patterson, Louisiana, February 25, 2024
On February 25, 2024 at about 10:45 pm local time, a 1990 amateur-built I, registered N72BH, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near Patterson, Louisiana (Harry P Williams Meml airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The non-certificated pilot’s decision to operate an unairworthy engine, which led to cylinder failure and a 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
- February 25, 2024 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Patterson, Louisiana · Harry P Williams Meml · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built I, built 1990
- Registration
- N72BH · registry record · serial 165
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The owner, who was flying the airplane at the time of the accident, purchased the airplane about three months before the accident; the accident flight was the airplane’s first flight after the purchase. The airplane’s engine lost all power shortly after takeoff, and the airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post-impact fire. The non-certificated pilot was seriously injured; he did not provide a report of the accident; however, a postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the engine’s No. 2 cylinder had seized. A teardown examination of the engine revealed corrosion on the cylinder walls and the internal components of the No. 2 cylinder. No other preimpact anomalies were noted. Review of maintenance records showed that the airplane had not received an annual condition inspection for over 7 years. Additionally, other than maintenance performed on the propeller reduction gearbox and engine controls, no maintenance was recorded for the remainder of the engine. There were no entries indicating compliance with the manufacturer’s recommended procedures for engine preservation during periods of inactivity. At the time of the accident, the owner did not have a pilot certificate. He previously held a student pilot certificate, but it was revoked by the FAA in 1975. Based on the condition of the engine’s interior, the engine had likely not been properly prepared for long-term storage, which allowed corrosion to develop on the No. 2 cylinder components. The loss of engine power was related to the non-certificated pilot’s decision to operate the engine despite the lack of maintenance, which resulted in a seizure during operation due to corrosion.
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
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › (general) › Not serviced/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng cyl section › Failure
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 6, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 870 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06/2, 5,399 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 11 knots
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from KPTN, 1 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KPTN 252256Z AUTO 20011KT 10SM CLR 21/11 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP195 T02060111 $=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 1 picture from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on January 14, 2026. 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 | Aircraft Examination | PDF, 14 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Rotax 582 Operators Manual Excerpt | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Accident Site Photos | PDF, 2 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 29 pages | 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.