Amateur-built ESCAPADE accident near Brasstown, North Carolina, May 9, 2022
On May 9, 2022 at about 2:15 pm local time, a 2004 amateur-built ESCAPADE, registered N86RD, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Brasstown, North Carolina (Private airport). 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 failure of the engine gearbox drive flange, which resulted in a nose gear collapse during the subsequent precautionary landing in tall grass.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 9, 2022 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- Brasstown, North Carolina · Private · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ESCAPADE NO SERIES, built 2004
- Registration
- N86RD · registry record · serial 31
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff while on a local flight, the pilot, who was also the owner of the airplane, heard and felt an unusual vibration emanating from the engine. The pilot elected to return to the private airfield as the experimental automobile engine was still running. He declared an emergency as the engine was losing coolant, and the coolant and oil temperature steadily rose to very high levels. Fearing a complete engine failure, he elected to fly straight in and land on an un-mowed portion of the airport. As the airplane touched down the nose gear collapsed, causing the airplane to impact the terrain and come to a sudden stop that resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot, who was also an aircraft mechanic, examined the engine and discovered that the engine gearbox drive flange, also known as a “spider,” had failed. The three-eared flange had fractured outside of the splined driveshaft hole. The resulting failure threw parts into the radiator, puncturing it. The punctured radiator lost coolant, causing a subsequent engine over-temperature that likely would have led to a complete loss of engine power. Fearing an imminent loss of engine power, the pilot made a precautionary landing on an unimproved part of the airport.
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
- Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail during enroute defining event
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Accessory gear › boxes › (general) › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng liquid cooling › Damaged/degraded
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng oil sys › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 840 hours in all; 180 in this make and model
- Last flight review: October 11, 2021
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 209 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, January 20, 2022; 23 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Viking (piston); 340 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18/3, 2,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.18 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 am from RHP, 10 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KRHP 091455Z AUTO 32003KT 10SM SCT030 16/10 A3018 RMK AO2 T01620095=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
7 documents, released by the NTSB on October 25, 2023. 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation_pilot/owner | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Memo for Record_faa | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Memo for Record_engine Service Bulletin | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 6 | Engine Manual Excerpt_part and Location | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Photo Array Airplane and Component Damage | PDF, 8 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.