Newly-Built Plane's Engine Quit Near Airport

A pilot completing one of the final test flights of his newly-built Aerocomp 7SL turboprop wound up going for a swim last week, after the plane suffered an engine failure near the Merritt Island (FL) Airport.

"I was over the houses on the other side of Sykes Creek, so I put the airplane into glide and tried to slow it as much as I could," pilot William Lara told Florida Today.

Lara built the plane (file photo of type, above) at the airport. The Montana emergency medicine physician was in town to finish his required flight training when the incident occurred December 21.

When the engine quit, Lara said he kept the wings level and placed his dachshund, Sara, behind the front passenger seat to protect the dog from impact forces. He also wedged the door open.

About 20 seconds after the engine quit, Lara says the plane touched down in Newfound Harbor at around 65 mph. He compared the experience to "getting hit with a 70 mile-per-hour baseball bat."

With Sara around his neck, Lara says he swam about 150 yards before a nearby boater came to their rescue.

Lara credited the plane's four-point seat restraints for keeping in him place during the rough water landing.

"Had I been knocked out, I would have drowned. Everybody should wear seat beats. They're lifesavers," he said.

Lara was treated at the scene for neck strain, and two cuts on his legs. Sara is doing fine.

IDENTIFICATION
  Regis#: 286JL        Make/Model: EXP       Description: AERO COMP
  Date: 12/21/2006     Time: 1645

  Event Type: Accident   Highest Injury: Minor     Mid Air: N    Missing: N
  Damage: Substantial

LOCATION
  City: MERRITT ISLAND   State: FL   Country: US

DESCRIPTION
  ACFT ON TAKEOFF LOST POWER AND DITCHED IN THE WATER, EAST OF MERRITT ISLAND
  AIRPORT, FL

INJURY DATA      Total Fatal:   0
                 # Crew:   1     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   1     Unk:   
                 # Pass:   0     Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   
                 # Grnd:         Fat:   0     Ser:   0     Min:   0     Unk:   

WEATHER: ASOS 140 AT 12 10SM CLR A3023

OTHER DATA
  Activity: Unknown      Phase: Take-off      Operation: OTHER

  Departed: MERRITT ISLAND, FL          Dep Date:    Dep. Time:     
  Destination: MERRITT ISLAND, FL       Flt Plan:              Wx Briefing: 
  Last Radio Cont: 
  Last Clearance: 

  FAA FSDO: ORLANDO, FL  (SO15)                   Entry date: 12/22/2006

FMI: www.faa.gov, www.aerocompinc.com