Amateur-built IV accident near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, August 30, 2015
On August 30, 2015 at about 2:55 pm local time, a 1997 amateur-built IV, registered N864KM, was destroyed in an accident during initial climb near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The mechanic's improper installation of the turbocharger assembly, which resulted in oil starvation and a subsequent total loss of the engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 30, 2015 · about 2:55 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built IV P, built 1997
- Registration
- N864KM · no longer on the register · serial LIV-166
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that, during the climb to cruise altitude, he noticed a loss of engine oil pressure. He declared an emergency with air traffic control (ATC) and requested to return to the airport. After ATC acknowledged, the pilot advised ATC that he lost all engine power and had to make an emergency landing. During the forced landing, the airplane collided with a ditch and was destroyed by postcrash fire. An examination of the engine revealed that it failed catastrophically, displaying signatures of lubrication distress; further, no measurable quantity of oil could be recovered from within the engine. Detailed examination of the engine's turbochargers revealed that one of the two units displayed evidence of burnt oil on the external surface and evidence of a foreign material in the unit's center housing, on the thrust bearing, and on the thrust collar. The foreign material was identified as polyethylene (plastic), similar to that used to protect the exposed orifices of the engine during shipment. Review of maintenance records revealed that the pilot/mechanic had replaced both turbochargers with overhauled units two days before the accident flight. The turbocharger overhauler provided installation instructions and warnings that, in part, stated, "Remove all protective caps and plugs BEFORE installing this turbocharger." The foreign material discovered within the turbocharger's center housing suggests that the protective plastic cap at the oil outlet was likely not removed during the installation. It is likely that the turbocharger center housing filled with oil, which then flowed out of the engine via the turbocharger housing backplate, resulting in oil starvation and the subsequent total 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
- Aircraft maintenance event during prior to flight
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during initial climb defining event
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb
- Loss of engine power (total) during emergency descent
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Turbocharging (recip only) › Turbocharger › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Failure
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Maintenance personnel
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,954 hours in all; 114 in this make and model; 77 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 4,399 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: March 12, 2015
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,617 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 10, 2015; 167 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental TSIO-550-E1B (piston); 1,617 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: FXE Fort Lauderdale FL at 2:35 pm
- Destination: LYH Lynchburg VA
- Flight plan: IFR
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 17 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 12,000 ft; scat at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from FXE, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.