Pilot Debrief

Zenair Zodiac CH601 near Angier, NC — 2019-04-27

Final reportERA19LA159
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Date
2019-04-27
Location
Angier, NC, USA
Airport
NC78
Aircraft
Zenair Zodiac CH601
Registration
N61PG
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Descent

Probable cause

A partial loss of engine power due to partial interruption of the fuel supply for undetermined reasons.

NTSB narrative

About 10 nautical miles from the destination during a cross-country flight, the airplane's engine began to run rough, cut in and out, and surge. The pilot checked the header fuel tank level and noted that it was nearly full, and he activated the electrically driven fuel pump, but the engine issues continued. The airplane continued to lose altitude and the engine continued to run rough; about 1,000 ft above the ground and about two nautical miles from the destination airport, the pilot decided to reduce engine power to idle and complete a precautionary landing in a field. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted a dirt pile and nosed over, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and wings. Fuel was found in the bowls of both carburetors and in both wing tanks and the header tank. Examination of the engine found no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation, and when the engine was test run from an external fuel source using the engine-driven fuel pump, it started and produced power at multiple power settings. Given the presence of fuel and the lack of anomalies found during the postaccident engine test run, it is possible that the fuel supply to the engine was partially interrupted, which resulted in the engine continuing to run rough to the extent that maintaining altitude was not possible; however, the reason for the interruption of the fuel supply could not be determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have landed earlier when engine first started to run rough.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 8 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents8

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