# Accident 20241017016379A: Zenith 601, Martinsburg, PA, October 17, 2024 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: October 17, 2024, 14:18 local time - Place: Martinsburg, PA - Airport: Altoona Blair County Airport - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 40.2964° N, 78.3200° W: From the FAA - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2964&lon=-78.3200&mi=10 - Aircraft: N511JG, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N511JG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Gosselin Mark J ZODIAC 601 HDS (registry code 05612K2, https://openairdocs.org/model/gosselin-mark-j-zodiac-601-hds) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Continental C90 series (registry code 17009, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c90-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ZENITH 601 - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Other injuries: 0 - Pilot certificates: Private pilot - Pilot flight hours: 685 total - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA25LA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA030) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241017016379A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ON THURSDAY OCTOBER 17TH, 2024, AT APPROXAMATLEY 1417 EASTERN STANDARD TIME AN EXPERIMENTAL ZODIAC 601 HDS, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT THE ALTOONA / BLAIR COUNTY AIRPORT (KAOO). THE 14 C.F.R. PART 91 FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED BY A CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT. THE PIC STATED THAT THERE WERE NO ABNORMALITES NOTED DURING THE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION OR DURING THE GROUND RUN CHECK BEFORE THE FLIGHT. THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE ALTOONA / BLAIR COUNTY AIRPORT (KAOO) AT 1417 EASTERN STANDARD TIME, FOR A LOCAL FLIGHT IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. THE PIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE STARTED TO MISFIRE AND FAILED AT APPROXAMITLEY 300 TO 500 FEET AGL, AFTER TAKING OFF FROM RUNWAY 8. THE PIC THEN PUSHED THE YOKE FORWARD AND EXPERIENCED A HARD LANDING ON RUNWAY 8. THE IMPACT FORCES OF THE LANDING BROKE THE RIGHT-HAND MAIN LANDING GEAR AT THE WHEEL/AXLE TO LANDING GEAR LEG ATTACHMENT POINT. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO A STOP ON RUNWAY 8, THEN THE PIC SHUTDOWN THE AIRCRAFT, TURNED OFF THE FUEL SELECTOR VALVE, AND EXITED THE AIRCRAFT. THE PIC WAS NOT INJURED. A POST ACCIDENT INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT IDENTIFIED THE FOLLOWING: • NO ROTATIONAL DAMAGE NOTED TO THE PROPELLER, DAMAGE WAS NOTED TO ONE BLADE AT ITS TIP. DAMAGE APPEARS TO BE FROM CONTACTING THE RUNWAY AND ABRADING AGAINST THE TARMAC. (APPROXAMITLY 2 INCHES OF DAMAGE, STARTING AT THE LEADING EDGE CORNER) • THE LOWER ENGINE COWLING MADE CONTACT WITH THE TARMAC DURING LANDING. LOWER COWLING SHOWS SIGNS OF ABRASION AT THE AIR INLET / AIR FILTER AREA. • THE RIGHT HAND LANDING GEAR WHEEL / AXLE ASSEMBLY SEPERATED FROM TRUNNION LEG, BUT STAYED ATTACHED TO THE AIRCRAFT VIA THE WHEEL PANTS. • THE LEFT HAND INBOARD WING, TOP WING SKIN BUCKLED AND WARPED IN AN AFT AND OUTBOARD DIRECTION (APPROX 45 DEGREES). • THE LEFT HAND MAIN LANDING GEAR STRUCTURE AT THE AXLE APPEARS TO BE BENT LATERALLY, BUT STILL ATTACHED TO ITS TRUNNION. • THE LEFT HAND FUSELAGE SECTION AT WING ATTACHMENT AREA BUCKLED AND WARPED FROM LOWER FUSELAGE AREA BEHIND COWLING, TO UPPER SKIN AREA BY CANOPY. (45 DEGREES LONGITUDINALLY) • THE TAILWHEEL STRUCK THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE RUDDER CONTROL SURFACE. • NOTED DURING INSPECTION OF THE ENGINE. A LIGHT PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE FUEL BOWL BY HAND, IN AN AFT DIRECTION. FUEL STARTED TO LEAK SUBSTAINTALLY. ONCE FINGER PRESSURE WAS RELEASED, THE LEAK STOPPED. A VISUAL INSPECTION IDENTIFIED THAT THE FUEL BOWL (GASCOLATER) SEAL WAS STIFF AND STARTING TO CRACK. • THE ENGINE HAD COMPRESSION ON EACH CYLINDER, AND EACH MAGNETO WAS PRODUCING A SPARK AT THE SPARK PLUGS. ## 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 ERA25LA030](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA030), Oct 17, 2024: Zenith Zodiac 601 HDS (N511JG), Altoona, PA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of a deteriorated gascolator gasket. Contributing was the failure of the mechanic to replace the gasket during the most recent… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.