Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Springfield, Illinois
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Location: Mt. Zion, IL
Accident Number: CEN17LA338
Date & Time: 09/03/2017, 1615 CDT
Registration: N68N
Aircraft: Golden Eagle Chief
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (total)
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On September 3, 2017, about 1615 central daylight time, a Golden Eagle Chief, N68N, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it nosed over in a bean field near Mt. Zion, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger on board the airplane were not injured. The cross-country flight originated from Macomb (MQB), Illinois, and was en route to Mattoon, (MTO), Illinois.
The pilot told Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors that the engine lost power. His first thought was that it was a fuel issue. He made a forced landing in a bean field and the airplane nosed over on its back. The top of the rudder was crushed. The pilot said there was fuel in the tanks at the accident site.
Despite numerous requests, the pilot refused to complete the NTSB's Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report (Form 6120.1-2). He told the FAA inspector that he planned to sell the wreckage and would not repair it. The following, therefore, is based on information supplied by FAA inspectors.
Prior to moving the airplane to its hangar, the pilot said he drained 13 gallons of fuel from the fuel tanks because he did not want fuel leaking on the hangar floor. By the time FAA inspectors arrived, the airplane had been in the hangar for over 24 hours. The inspector said he had no way of confirming the amount of fuel remaining in the airplane because he did not see any fuel when he arrived. The airplane had been inverted and fuel could have leaked out the vented fuel caps. The fuel tanks, which hold 30 gallons, were filled at Macomb, Illinois. The inspector estimated the flight time from Macomb to Mt. Zion to be about one hour.
The inspector turned the propeller by hand and noted drive train continuity.
On August 10, 2007, the pilot and N68N were involved in another accident near Hindsboro, Illinois. In that case a forced landing and nose over ensued after the engine lost power, Post-accident examination revealed the number 7 cylinder had separated.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 64, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Rear
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Unknown
Last FAA Medical Exam: 07/17/2015
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 07/16/2017
Flight Time: (Estimated) 1472 hours (Total, all aircraft), 47 hours (Total, this make and model)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Manufacturer: Golden Eagle
Registration: N68N
Model/Series: Chief
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 1929
Amateur Built: No
Airworthiness Certificate: Normal
Serial Number: 803
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: 05/01/2017, Annual
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1480 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection: 10 Hours
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 746 Hours
Engine Manufacturer: Ken Royce
ELT:
Engine Model/Series: 7 Series
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 90 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: KMQB, 682 ft msl
Observation Time: 1635 CDT
Distance from Accident Site: 0 Nautical Miles
Direction from Accident Site:
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Temperature/Dew Point: 28°C / 11°C
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 Miles
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: Calm
Visibility (RVR):
Altimeter Setting: 30.04 inches Hg
Visibility (RVV):
Precipitation and Obscuration:
Departure Point: Macomb, IL (KMQB)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Mattoon, IL (KMTO)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: CDT
Type of Airspace: Class G
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 39.744167, -88.919444
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, September 03, 2017 in Mt. Zion, IL
Aircraft: Golden Eagle Chief, registration: NC68N
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.
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 September 3, 2017, about 1615 central daylight time, a Golden Eagle Chief, NC68N, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it nosed over in a bean field near Mt. Zion, Illinois. The pilot and passenger on board the airplane were not injured. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The cross-country flight originated from Macomb (MQB), Illinois, and was en route to Mattoon, (MTO), Illinois.
The pilot told Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors that the engine lost power. His first thought was that it was a fuel issue. He made a forced landing in a bean field and the airplane nosed over on its back. There was fuel in the tanks at the accident site.
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Springfield, Illinois
Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Aviation Accident Data Summary - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
NTSB Identification: CHI07CA276
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, August 10, 2007 in Hindsboro, IL
Probable Cause Approval Date: 10/31/2007
Aircraft: Golden Eagle Chief, registration: N68N
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.
The airplane nosed over on impact with terrain and crops during a forced landing following an in-flight loss of engine power. An examination of the airplane's engine revealed a separation of its number seven cylinder.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The loss of engine power due to the number seven cylinder's separation during cruise and the crops encountered during the forced landing leading to the airplane nosing over.
The airplane sustained substantial damage when it nosed over on impact with terrain and crops during a forced landing following an in-flight loss of engine power. An examination of the airplane's Ken Royce 7G engine, serial number 1329, revealed a separation of its number seven cylinder.
Sounds like he ran out of fuel and lied about it.
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