Sunday, May 16, 2021

Zenith CH750 STOL, N750GZ: Accident occurred May 16, 2019 near Savannah-Hardin County Airport (KSNH), Savannah, Tennessee

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.

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Memphis, Tennessee


Location: Savannah, TN 
Accident Number: ERA19LA177
Date & Time: May 16, 2019, 14:35 Local 
Registration: N750GZ
Aircraft: Zenith CH750
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On May 16, 2019, about 1435 central daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Zenith CH750 STOL, N750GZ, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain during a forced landing near Savannah-Hardin County Airport (SNH), Savannah, Tennessee. The sport pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was privately owned and operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight, which departed SNH about 1420.

According to the pilot, he performed a preflight inspection of the airplane at 1400 with no anomalies noted. He stated that he checked the battery voltage after engine start-up then he departed SNH. While in-flight he observed a drop in the direct current (DC) electrical bus voltage from a normal value of about 13.6 volts direct current (vdc) to about 12.5 vdc. He initiated a turn back to SNH and about 2 minutes later, the DC bus voltage dropped to 0 vdc and the engine stopped producing power. The pilot selected an open field and preformed a forced landing. After the accident, the pilot noted that the in-line circuit breaker located under the instrument panel from the alternator was tripped.

According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airman records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane, single engine land. He reported 251.4 total hours of flight experience, which included 58.7 hours of flight experience in the accident airplane.

The weather reported at 1435 at SNH, located about 1 mile northwest of the accident site, included a visibility of 10 statute miles, clear sky, wind variable in direction at 4 knots, temperature 31°C, dew point 19°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.96 inches of mercury.

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Zenith
Registration: N750GZ
Model/Series: CH750 STOL 
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built: Yes
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC 
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KSNH,472 ft msl 
Observation Time: 18:35 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 31°C /19°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 4 knots / ,
Lowest Ceiling: None 
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 29.95 inches Hg 
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Savannah, TN (SNH)
Destination: Savannah, TN (SNH)

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: 35.151111,-88.212219 (est)

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