# Accident 20080621840509A: Amtr AVIDMARKIV, Augusta, KS, June 21, 2008

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 21, 2008, 09:12 local time
- Place: Augusta, KS
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Fcd/Prec Ldg From Cruise
- Location: 37.6717° N, 97.0778° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6717&lon=-97.0778&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6880L, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6880L-2018-06-26) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mercer Earl L AVID FLYER MK IV (registry code 05618VW, https://openairdocs.org/model/mercer-earl-l-avid-flyer-mk-iv) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 582SER (registry code 55556, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR AVIDMARKIV
- Reported engine: ROTAX ROTAX*
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 12,500 total, 40 in this make and model, 130 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB DEN08LA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA108) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080621840509A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ ATP CERTIFICATE NUMBER ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ TOTAL HOURS 12,500, HOURS APPROXIMATELY 15 HOURS IN TYPE.  AIRCRAFT DEPARTED A PRIVATE STRIP AND FLEW APPROXIMATELY 30 MINUTES LANDING AT A FRIENDS PRIVATE STIP WITH NO PROBLEMS OR ISSUES.  AIRCRAFT THEN DEPARTED THE FRIENDS PRIVATE STRIP WHEN AT APPROXIMATELY 400 FEET ON CLIMB-OUT THE OIL AND WATER TEMP HAD RISEN TO ABOUT 200-225 DEGREES.  THE PILOT DECIDED TO RETURN TO FRIENDS PRIVATE STRIP.  DURING THE TURN BACK TO THE PRIVATE STRIP THE ENGINE SEIZED.  THE PILOT PUT THE AIRCRAFT DOWN IN A FIELD IN AVOIDANCE OF HITTING A TREE LINE.  FUEL WAS FOUND PRESENT IN BOTH WINGS; BOTH FUEL SELECTORS WERE IN THE OFF POSITION, MAIN FUEL FILTER APPEARED CLEAR, THROTTLE WAS FULL IN AND NO SIGN OF PROP ROTATION AT TIME OF IMPACT.  FURTHER INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE PILOT RECEIVED A COMPRESSED DISC AND NO OTHER INJURIES.  INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE BY A CERTIFICATED MECHANIC REVEALED THE COOLANT CAP WAS OFF THE TANK AND THAT COOLANT HAD ESCAPED CAUSING THE OVERHEAT AND SEIZE OF THE ROTAX ENGINE.  THE PILOT/OWNER STATED THAT HE WOULD NOT BE REPAIRING THE ENGINE OR AIRFRAME AND WOULD SELL IT AS SALVAGE.  NO FURTHER INVESTIGATION REQUIRED WITH THIS REPORT AND THIS INVESTIGATION IS CONSIDERED CLOSED.

## 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 DEN08LA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA108), Jun 21, 2008: Mercer Avid Flyer Mk IV (N6880L), Augusta, KS, substantial damage. Probable cause: Failure of the engine cooling system's thermostat, causing the engine to overheat and seize. Contributing to the accident was the fence.

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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