# Accident 20020520010389A: Amtr TORNADO, Grant, MI, May 20, 2002

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 20, 2002, 18:50 local time
- Place: Grant, MI
- Airport: Grant Airport
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.3290° N, 85.8090° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3290&lon=-85.8090&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5143C, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5143C-2022-12-24) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Wattier Lawrence D TORNADO (registry code 05620VC, https://openairdocs.org/model/wattier-lawrence-d-tornado) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (registry code 09050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR TORNADO
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI02LA139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA139) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020520010389A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) ON 05/20/02, AMATEUR BUILT AIRCRAFT N5143C, FLOWN BY KRIS J. BAWTINHEIMER TOOK OFF FROM WILDERNESS AIRPARK IN KENT CITY AND ENROUTE TO GRANT AIRPORT, MI. HE MADE TWO OR THREE LOW PASSES OVER THE AIRPORT BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO LAND. ON THE LAST PASS AND DURING CLIMB THE AIRCRAFT ENGINE STOPPED AND THE PILOT TRIGGERED THE BRS AND AIRCRAFT PARACHUTE OPEN AND THE AIRCRAFT DROPPED DOWN IN THE WOODED AREA 1 1/2 MILES NORTH EAST OF THE AIRPORT. PILOT IS THE ONLY OCCUPANT IN THE AIRCRAFT AND ESCAPED WITHOUT INJURY. DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIAL. THIS AIRCRAFT HAS NOT BEEN FLOWN FOR OVER TWO YEARS AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME FOR THE OWNER/PILOT TO FLY THIS AIRCRAFT AFTER COMPLETION OF CONDITION INSPECTION AT WILDERNESS AIRPARK. PILOT HAD ONLY TOTAL OF 3 HOURS FLIGHT TIME IN THIS AIRCRAFT. NOT MUCH EXPERIENCE IN MAKE AND MODEL AND LONG STORAGE COULD HAVE A FUEL SYSTEM CONTAMINATION. (.19) ON MAY 20, 2002, AT 1850 CENTRAL DAYLIGHT TIME, A WATTIER TORNADO, N5143C, PILOTED BY A PRIVATE PILOT, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE ON IMPACT WITH TREES FOLLOWING A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE AIRPLANE WAS ON APPROACH TO THE GRANT AIRPORT, GRANT, MICHIGAN. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS   PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS NOT OPERATING ON A FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT WAS UNINJURED. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED AT A TIME UNKNOWN. DURING THE APPROACH TO THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT CIRCLED THE AIRPORT SEVERAL TIMES, AND ON THE LAST PASS THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE AIRPLANE'S PARACHUTE RECOVERY SYSTEM WAS THEN DEPLOYED, AND THE AIRPLANE DESCENDED INTO TREES UNDER A PARACHUTE, WHICH RESULTED IN STRUCTURAL DAMAGE TO BOTH WINGS.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CHI02LA139](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI02LA139), May 20, 2002: Wattier Tornado (N5143C), Grant, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The disregarded replacement of the airplane's fuel lines, the operation of the aircraft with known deficiencies, and the turn back to the departure airport by the owner/pilot. The inadequate…

## Other reports on N5143C (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19960703021229I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960703021229I), Jul 3, 1996: Amtr TITANTORNADO (N5143C), Belle Fourche, SD, Minor damage. Narrative: while transitioning from approach to landing the aircraft began to settle prematurely. Student initiated a go-around but the aircraft continued…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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