# Accident 20220907016059A: Knott Vernon W ZENITH 750, Silex, MO, September 7, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 7, 2022, 15:21 local time
- Place: Silex, MO
- Airport: Hermann-Faulk Airfield
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.1426° N, 90.9609° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1426&lon=-90.9609&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1949H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1949H-2023-12-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Knott Vernon W ZENITH 750 (registry code 05630K0, https://openairdocs.org/model/knott-vernon-w-zenith-750) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Jabiru 3300 (registry code 34802, https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: KNOTT VERNON W ZENITH 750
- Reported engine: JABIRU 3300
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
- Pilot flight hours: 22,247 total, 8 in this make and model, 102 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN22LA412](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA412) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220907016059A

## Narrative

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

THE ATP RATED PILOT WAS ASSISTING THE LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^WITH A MAINTENANCE TEST FLIGHT FOLLOWING THE IMPORT FROM CANADA AND REASSEMBLY OF THE EXPERIMENTAL AMATEUR BUILT, ZENITH 750 HD.  THEY PLANNED TO DEPART HERRMMANN-FAULK AIRFIELD (54MO) AND FLY TO THE BOWLING GREEN MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (H19) LOCATED 18 NAUTICAL MILES TO THE NORTHWEST AND PRACTICE LANDINGS.  THE PILOT WARMED THE ENGINE AND CONDUCTED A RUN UP WITH ALL INDICATIONS WITHIN PARAMETERS.  HE DID AN INITIAL RUN DOWN 1100 FT. THE GRASS RUNWAY AND DETERMINED THE SURFACE WAS IN GOOD CONDITION.  HE REPOSITIONED TO THE SOUTHEAST CORNER OF THE FIELD WHICH PROVIDED APPROXIMATELY 1300 FT. OF TAKEOFF DISTANCE.  THE PILOT APPLIED FULL POWER, NOTED THE STATIC RPM AS 2900 RPM PRIOR TO RELEASING THE BRAKES FOR TAKEOFF.  THE NOSE WHEEL LIFTED APPROXIMATELY 400 FT AND AIRCRAFT LIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY SHORTLY AFTER THAT.  THE PILOT LOWERED THE PITCH ATTITUDE TO GAIN SPEED AND NOTICED THE ORANGE BALLS ON THE POWER LINES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY.  THE PILOT TURNED THE AIRCRAFT TO THE RIGHT INTO THE WIND TO CLEAR THE POWER LINES.  THE PILOT LOOKED TO THE LEFT TO CHECK HIS POSITION RELATED TO THE POWER LINES AS THE UNDERCARRIAGE HIT THE POWER LINE CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO SLOW AND DROP TO THE SOYBEAN FIELD ADJACENT TO THE ROAD.  THE PILOT THEN TURNED OFF THE FUEL, MASTER SWITCH, AND IGNITION BEFORE EXITED THE AIRCRAFT UNASSISTED.  THE PILOT SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES AND THE PILOT RATED PASSENGER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES.

THE PILOT ASSITED THE GENERAL AVIATION (GA) OPERATIONS (OPS) AVIATION SAFETY INSPECTOR (ASI)WITH THE EXAMINAITON OF THE AIRCRAFT.  THE ASI OBTAINED CLEAN BLUE AVIATION FUEL FROM BOTH WING FUEL TANKS AND THE CARBURETOR RESERVOIR.

FOUR OF THE UPPER SPARK PLUGS HAD A LIGHT TAN CARBON AND CLEAN GRAY APPEARANCE.  THE #4 PLUG HAD A BUILDUP OF BLACK SOOT AND THE #5 PLUG HAD A TAN CARBON BUILD UP.  ONLY TWO CYLINDERS COULD BE CHECKED FOR THUMB COMPRESSION DUE THE AIRFRAME DAMAGE PREVENTING THE PROPELLER FROM TURN MORE THAN 3/4 REVOLUTION.  ALL INSPECTION AND RETURN TO SERVICE ENTRIES WERE APPROPRIATELY DOCUMENTED IN THE AIRCRAFT RECORDS.  THE WEIGHT AND BALANCE CALCULATED FOR THE FLIGHT INDICATED THE AIRCRAFT WAS WITHIN THE ALLOWABLE WEIGHT AND CENTER OF GRAVITY LIMITS.

## 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 CEN22LA412](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA412), Sep 7, 2022: Zenith 750 (N1949H), Silex, MO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from the powerlines during takeoff.

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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