# Accident 20040526009579A: Kauffm BEDEIV, Traverse City, MI, May 26, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 26, 2004, 19:50 local time
- Place: Traverse City, MI
- Airport: Cherry Capital
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.7414° N, 85.5822° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.7414&lon=-85.5822&mi=10
- Aircraft: N115PK, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N115PK-2006-06-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Kauffman BEDE IV (registry code 1130526, https://openairdocs.org/model/kauffman-bede-iv) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: KAUFFM BEDEIV
- Reported engine: LYC O320D2C
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,630 total, 200 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CHI04CA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04CA142) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040526009579A

## Narrative

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

(-23) PILOT DEPARTED RUNWAY 10 AT TVC AIRPORT ON 5-26-04. WHILE CLIMBING AND TURNING LEFT THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. PILOT HIT THE WATER ABOUT 200' OFF SHORE IN ABOUT 3' OR 4' OF WATER. AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER WITH ENGINE IN WATER. UPON LOOKING AT THE AIRCRAFT IT WAS FOUND: TOP TANKS HAD FUEL, ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL ALONG THE PILOT'S SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT (APPEARED TO BE CAUSED IN-FLIGHT) BUT STILL HAD WHAT APPEARED TO BE OIL IN CASE, PROPS SHOWED SLIGHT BENDING (LOW POWER WHEN HIT WATER), ENGINE WAS SEPARATED FROM ENGINE MOUNT AFTER HITTING SAND BOTTOM. WHEN INSPECTING OF ENGINE AND LINES IT WAS FOUND THAT A FUEL LINE NUT WAS ONLY HAND TIGHT. ALSO FUEL AND OIL LINES WERE SEPARATED FROM ENGINE. ENGINE TEARDOWN SHOWED SIGNS OF OIL STARVATION AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURES. OIL LEAK FROM LOCATION UNKNOWN.

## 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 CHI04CA142](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04CA142), May 26, 2004: Kauffman Bede IV (N115PK), Acme, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: Engine oil starvation and inadequate maintenance by the pilot.

## Other reports on N115PK (1)

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

- [Accident 19850721032759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850721032759A), Jul 21, 1985: Amtrbd BEDEBD4 (N115PK), Acme, MI, Destroyed. Mixture control not safety wired. Became disconnected, cut off fuel to engine. Landed in field, hit an embankment.

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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