Amateur-built COZY MK IV accident near Mcrae-Helena, Georgia, October 28, 2025
On October 28, 2025 at about 6:30 pm local time, a 2024 amateur-built COZY MK IV, registered N222HF, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Mcrae-Helena, Georgia (Telfair-Wheeler 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 pilot’s failure to extend the nose landing gear, which resulted in a nose gear up landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inappropriate decision to continue to fly with known delamination damage to the propeller.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 28, 2025 · about 6:30 pm local time · cases in 2025
- Place
- Mcrae-Helena, Georgia · Telfair-Wheeler · cases near this airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built COZY MK IV, built 2024
- Registration
- N222HF · registry record · serial 0247
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot and builder of the experimental airplane reported that in cruise flight about 1,700 ft above ground level, he felt a vibration that progressively intensified. He elected to make a precautionary landing at a nearby airport; however, he forgot to extend the nose landing gear, and the airplane’s nose contacted the runway surface during landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the lower fuselage. Post accident examination revealed that the composite propeller had shed a portion of its nickel-plated leading edge and exhibited damage consistent with delamination. Further examination by the propeller manufacturer revealed that the delamination was the result of heat damage and a total failure of the propeller was imminent. About 5 months before the accident, the pilot contacted the propeller manufacturer and provided photographs that revealed early stage delamination damage to the propeller. He was advised by several company representatives that the damage was the result of heat due to the location and proximity of the engine exhaust to the propeller, and that he should not continue to fly with that propeller.
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
- Landing gear not configured during landing defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Not used/operated other cases naming the landing gear
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,572 hours in all; 54 in this make and model
- Last flight review: November 23, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 54 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 8, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 2,370 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-D1A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AHN Athens GA at 5:30 pm
- Destination: VDF Tampa FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 03/2, 5,001 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 11 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 1,900 ft
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observation at 4:35 pm from EZM, 17 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KEZM 282135Z AUTO 06007KT 10SM OVC019 13/10 A2999
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 5 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Photo of the aircraft at the scene
Photograph 2 – Photo showing substantial damage to the composite structure of the lower nose
Photograph 3 – Photo of prop blade after accident with missing nickel leading edge
Photograph 4 – Photo of propeller after the accident showing delamination
Photograph 5 – Photo of damage to propeller as reported to manufacturer May, 2025The 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
3 documents, released by the NTSB on May 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 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Mor Interview with Catto Propellers | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photos | PDF, 6 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N222HF the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N222HF on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360-D1A 4 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Telfair-Wheeler Airport · nearest airport
- Athens/Ben Epps Airport · departed from
- Tampa Executive · bound for
- Accidents and incidents in Georgia 2,138 since 1982 · 361 in the last ten years
- Georgia 8,807 aircraft registered
- Other NTSB records under N222HF 1 records · the number may have belonged to another aircraft at the time
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA26LA030.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.