Amateur-built FX4-2 accident near Cartersville, Georgia, March 19, 2010
On March 19, 2010 at about 7:20 pm local time, a amateur-built FX4-2, registered N8508H, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern downwind) near Cartersville, Georgia (Cartersville Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the engine-driven oil pump drive coupling resulting in a loss lubrication and subsequent 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
- March 19, 2010 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Cartersville, Georgia · Cartersville Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built FX4-2
- Registration
- N8508H · no longer on the register · serial 2001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and certified flight instructor (CFI) were practicing takeoffs and landings. On the fourth takeoff, the airplane lifted off and the engine temperatures were within the normal range. At traffic pattern altitude, the pilot reduced power and turned left to enter the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. Shortly after making the turn, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The CFI took control of the airplane as the pilot restarted the engine. The engine regained full power for about five seconds and then shut down again. The CFI maneuvered the airplane for an off-airport landing in a pasture adjacent to the runway. The airplane landed hard and subsequently pivoted up on the nose cone before coming to a stop. During a postaccident examination and test run of the engine the two-cycle engine started and ran continuously on the airframe. When the engine was accelerated to full throttle, it lost power. Further examination revealed a failure of the engine-driven oil pump drive coupling. The resultant loss of lubrication and increased heat melted the rear piston lands over the piston rings. This led to a loss of cylinder compression and subsequent 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 (total) during approach (VFR pattern downwind) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng oil sys › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 73 hours in all; 33 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 7,100 hours in all
- Medical certificate: None (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 106 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 15, 2009; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Hirth 3500 SER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VPC Cartersville GA at 6:45 pm
- Destination: VPC Cartersville GA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 5,760 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 pm from VPC
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 2 |
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.