Icon A5 accident near Levittown, Puerto Rico, April 15, 2026
On April 15, 2026 at about 2:25 pm local time, a 2022 Icon A5, registered N558BA, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach near Levittown, Puerto Rico. 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
An oil line separation at a barbed fitting in an experimental airplane, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to oil starvation.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 2026 · about 2:25 pm local time
- Place
- Levittown, Puerto Rico · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Icon A5 NO SERIES, built 2022
- Registration
- N558BA · registry record · serial 00172
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
As the amphibious airplane was approaching the destination airport, the engine lost oil pressure shortly before losing power completely. Unable to glide to the airport, the pilot elected to conduct a forced landing to a nearby bay. Due to the rough water conditions, the landing was hard, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and empennage. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that that the oil line that connected the oil pump housing to the oil cooler had separated from the oil cooler adapter at the barbed end of the B-nut assembly. The respective clamp, which was supposed to secure the oil line past the barbed fitting, was not recovered. It is possible that the clamp was not completely secured past the barbed fitting when the new, upgraded engine was installed onto the airplane about 1 year prior to the accident; however, the clamp could not be located after the accident, so the preseparation position and condition of the clamp could not be determined.
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 defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Hard landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng oil sys › Not specified
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Misc hardware › Hoses and tubes › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 109 hours in all; 75 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 9 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 236 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 6, 2025; 98 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rotax 916 iS (piston); 236 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TJAB Arecibo PR at 1:50 pm
- Destination: TJIG San Juan PR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 090° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 10:50 am from TJIG, 5 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR TJIG 151450Z 09008KT 10SM SCT030 SCT070 27/22 A2995 RMK ATIS E
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 2 – Oil Spray
Photograph 3 – Oil Line Attached With Clamp at Oil Pump Fitting
Photograph 4 – Separated Oil Line And Oil Cooler Fitting
Photograph 5 – Close-up of Oil Cooler FittingThe 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
5 documents, released by the NTSB on July 29, 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 | Memoranda for the Record | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Excerpts from Maintenance Logbooks | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Weather Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Investigation Photographs | 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.
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.