Amateur-built BD-5B accident near Burlington, Washington, October 14, 2010
On October 14, 2010 at about 6:40 pm local time, a amateur-built BD-5B, registered N525BD, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Burlington, Washington (Skagit Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the sprag clutch during takeoff, resulting in a loss of engine thrust.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 2010 · about 6:40 pm local time
- Place
- Burlington, Washington · Skagit Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BD-5B
- Registration
- N525BD · registry record · serial 2
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff for the local area flight the engine's rpms decreased and he felt a loss of thrust. The pilot made a turn in an attempt to make an emergency landing to another runway; however, the airplane touched down hard and short of the runway, substantially damaging the airplane. Postaccident examination revealed that the sprag clutch failed, preventing the engine from turning the propeller and causing a loss of thrust.
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 takeoff defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor › Propeller system › (general) › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 968 hours in all; 229 in this make and model; 968 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 23, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: sngl
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 119 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, March 4, 2010; 67 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Yamaha Nytro (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BVS Burlington WA at 6:45 pm
- Destination: BVS Burlington WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 3,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 1,400 ft; scat at 500 ft
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 6:56 pm from NUW, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.