20170526008939A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Amstutz Curtis J BD-5B · Portland, IN · May 26, 2017

Date: May 26, 2017 · 17:20 local
Place: Portland, IN
Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N604KA
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN17LA205
Reported as: Amstutz Curtis J BD-5B
Reported engine: HIRTH 3203E
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 10 in this make and model

N604KARegistration cancelled Jan 9, 2018 · Amstutz Curtis J BD-5BS/N 1 · Built 2016 Airframe modelAmstutz Curtis J BD-5B Engine modelHirth 32032 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On may 26, 2017, about 1720 eastern standard time, an experimental amatuer built aircraft bede BD-5B N604KA, departed Portland municipal airport. During the climb at 3500 feet, the aircraft experienced engine roughness. The pilot proceeded to return to the airport. The engine quit during the left base turn. Aircraft landed an open field approximitly 1.5 miles northeast of the airport. The aircraft was operating under visual flight rules. The pilot was the sole occupant. There were no injuries.

The pilot commented that during the descent he noted that engine cylinder number one cylinder head temperature (CHT), and engine gas temperature (EGT), were low. On final approach, he determined that the aircraft would not make the runway. The aircraft landed in an open field heading north. The aircraft received substantial damage to the airframe, landing gear, wings and flight controls. Site gages in the wings indicated aircraft had fuel.

As the FAA filed it

ON MAY 26, 2017, ABOUT 1720 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, AN EXPERIMENTAL AMATUER BUILT AIRCRAFT BEDE BD-5B N604KA, DEPARTED PORTLAND MUNICIPAL AIRPORT. DURING THE CLIMB AT 3500 FEET, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED ENGINE ROUGHNESS. THE PILOT PROCEEDED TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT. THE ENGINE QUIT DURING THE LEFT BASE TURN. AIRCRAFT LANDED AN OPEN FIELD APPROXIMITLY 1.5 MILES NORTHEAST OF THE AIRPORT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATING UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES. THE PILOT WAS THE SOLE OCCUPANT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES.

THE PILOT COMMENTED THAT DURING THE DESCENT HE NOTED THAT ENGINE CYLINDER NUMBER ONE CYLINDER HEAD TEMPERATURE (CHT), AND ENGINE GAS TEMPERATURE (EGT), WERE LOW. ON FINAL APPROACH, HE DETERMINED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WOULD NOT MAKE THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED IN AN OPEN FIELD HEADING NORTH. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRFRAME, LANDING GEAR, WINGS AND FLIGHT CONTROLS. SITE GAGES IN THE WINGS INDICATED AIRCRAFT HAD FUEL.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN17LA205Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPortland, INA failure of the wiring between the engine control unit and the fuel injector, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.May 26, 2017 · Substantial damage