# Accident 20170526008939A: Amstutz Curtis J BD-5B, Portland, IN, May 26, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 26, 2017, 17:20 local time
- Place: Portland, IN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.4519° N, 84.9797° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4519&lon=-84.9797&mi=10
- Aircraft: N604KA, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N604KA-2018-01-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Amstutz Curtis J BD-5B (registry code 05626KI, https://openairdocs.org/model/amstutz-curtis-j-bd-5b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Hirth 3203 (registry code 33733, https://openairdocs.org/engine/hirth-3203) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMSTUTZ CURTIS J BD-5B
- Reported engine: HIRTH 3203E
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 10 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN17LA205](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA205) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170526008939A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 CEN17LA205](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA205), May 26, 2017: Amstutz Curtis J BD-5B (N604KA), Portland, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: A failure of the wiring between the engine control unit and the fuel injector, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.

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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