Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
http://registry.faa.gov/N7524V
Location: Paynesville, MN
Accident Number: CEN17LA117
Date & Time: 03/04/2017, 1330 CST
Registration: N7524V
Aircraft: JUDE MIKE C SIDE WINDER
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (total)
Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
Analysis
The private pilot was going to practice touch-and-go landings; during the first takeoff, he smelled engine coolant. As he turned onto the downwind leg, the engine lost total power. Unable to reach the runway, the pilot chose to conduct a forced landing in a field.
Although the pilot stated that he checked the engine coolant level during the preflight inspection, a postaccident examination of the airplane revealed an insufficient amount of coolant in the reservoir. The radiator did not contain any coolant, and no leaks were detected in the coolant system. No other anomalies were noted with the engine. Given the small amount of coolant in the system and the lack of any leaks, it is likely that the pilot did not ensure that a sufficient amount of coolant was in the engine reservoir before takeoff, which resulted in the engine getting too hot and the engine control module shutting down the engine as designed.
Probable Cause and Findings
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's inadequate preflight inspection, during which he failed to ensure that there was sufficient coolant in the engine reservoir, which resulted in the engine getting too hot and the engine control module shutting down the engine.
Findings
Aircraft
Coolant - Fluid level (Cause)
Personnel issues
Preflight inspection - Pilot (Cause)
Factual Information
On March 4, 2017, at 1330 central standard time, N7524V, an amateur built experimental Jude Side Winder airplane, was substantially damaged during an off airport forced landing in Paynesville, Minnesota, following a loss of engine power. The private pilot was seriously injured. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Leaders/Clear Lake Airport (8Y6), Clear Lake, Minnesota, at 1300.
The pilot reported he flew to the Paynesville Municipal Airport (PEX), with the intention of performing touch and go landings. He made the first landing and was taking off when the accident occurred. The pilot reported that during the initial climb and turn onto the crosswind leg, he smelled engine coolant. As he made the turn onto the downwind leg, the engine lost power. He stated he did not believe he could make it back to the runway, so he chose a field in which to make a forced landing. The field that the pilot selected for the landing was soft. As a result, the airplane was substantially damaged during the landing.
The pilot stated he checked the fluid levels, including the engine coolant, during the airplane preflight inspection. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed a small amount of engine coolant in the coolant reservoir which was below the level of the standpipe. The radiator did not contain any coolant and no leaks were detected in the coolant system. The electric cooling fan for the radiator was free to turn. The airplane was equipped with a Chevrolet LS-1 engine and an engine control module that would shut down the engine if it was running too hot. No other anomalies were noted with the engine.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 71, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 4-point
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 04/09/2013
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 03/04/2013
Flight Time: 400 hours (Total, all aircraft), 250 hours (Total, this make and model), 5 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Manufacturer: JUDE MIKE C
Registration: N7524V
Model/Series: SIDE WINDER NO SERIES
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2009
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 212624
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: Unknown
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1800 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 277.6 Hours
Engine Manufacturer: General Motors
ELT: Not installed
Engine Model/Series: 346cc LSI
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 180 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Meteorological Information and Flight Plan
Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: PEX, 1182 ft msl
Observation Time: 0853 UTC
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site: 45°
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Temperature/Dew Point: -3°C / -6°C
Lowest Ceiling:
Visibility: 10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 12 knots/ 16 knots, 130°
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 30.25 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Clear Lake, MN (8Y6)
Type of Flight Plan Filed:
Destination: Paynesville, MN (PEX)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1300 CST
Type of Airspace: Class G
Airport Information
Airport: PAYNESVILLE MUNI (PEX)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 1182 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 29
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 3302 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 45.370000, -94.756389 (est)
NTSB Identification: CEN17LA117
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, March 04, 2017 in Paynesville, MN
Aircraft: JUDE MIKE C SIDE WINDER, registration: N7524V
Injuries: 1 Serious.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.
On March 4, 2017, at 1444 central standard time, N7524V, an amateur built experimental Jude Side Winder, was substantially damaged during an off airport forced landing in Paynesville, Minnesota, following a loss of engine power. The private pilot was seriously injured. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Leaders/Clear Lake Airport (8Y6), Clear Lake, Minnesota, at 1400.
The pilot reported he flew to the Paynesville Municipal Airport (PEX), with the intention of performing a couple of touch and go landings. He made the first landing and was taking off when the accident occurred. He stated he turned crosswind and was beginning the downwind turn when the engine lost all power. He stated he did not believe he could make it back to the airport, for fear of stalling the airplane, so he chose a field in which to make a forced landing. The airplane contacted the rough plowed field during the landing.
The airplane is equipped with a Chevrolet LS-1 engine.
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