# NTSB ANC14LA065: Terry W. Thayer Zenith Stol CH701, N957TT, Nikiski, AK, August 18, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 18, 2014, 13:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Nikiski, AK - Coordinates: 60.764446, -151.890548 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.7644&lon=-151.8905&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 11, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration, FSDO-03 - NTSB case key (mKey): 89909 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC14LA065 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89909/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89909 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14LA065 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper positioning of the fuel selector valves, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to follow preflight checklists. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel selector/shutoff valve](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Thayer Terry W ZENITH STOL CH701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md?model=05629VJ), [All aircraft, 176 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022823/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Thayer Terry W ZENITH STOL CH701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=05629VJ), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Thayer Terry W ZENITH STOL CH701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=05629VJ), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Thayer Terry W ZENITH STOL CH701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=05629VJ), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Thayer Terry W ZENITH STOL CH701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=05629VJ), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Thayer Terry W ZENITH STOL CH701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05629VJ), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Thayer Terry W ZENITH STOL CH701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05629VJ), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Thayer Terry W ZENITH STOL CH701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05629VJ), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was departing from a remote, off-airport site in an experimental amateur-built airplane. He stated that just after takeoff, as the airplane reached about 50 feet above ground level, the engine lost all power. The pilot then attempted to land the airplane near the departure end of the site, but, with insufficient airspeed or altitude to transition to a landing attitude, the airplane landed hard and sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. According to the pilot, he had turned the airplane's fuel valves to the "off" position after the previous landing, and he failed to move the fuel valves into the "on" position before departure. He also noted that he did not use the preflight checklist. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On August 18, 2014, about 1330 Alaska daylight time, an experimental amateur built Zenith STOL CH-701 airplane, N957TT, sustained substantial damage during a collision with terrain, following a loss of engine power during takeoff from an off-airport site near Nikiski, Alaska. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight destined to Nikishka, Alaska. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on August 21, the pilot stated that before landing at the off-airport site he performed a low pass to observe the condition of the site and noted three areas of standing water and one aircraft parked off the site. He then conducted a touch-and-go landing, touching down with the main gear only to test the landing surface, followed by a full stop landing. During the landing roll, the airplane's main landing gear wheels went through areas of standing water, which splashed over the windscreen and under the pilot's door. Upon exiting the airplane the pilot noticed fluid dripping from underneath the wing. He believed it was fuel, as he had a fuel leak in the same location the month prior, so he closed both fuel valves. The pilot reported that before departing for his return trip, he performed a walk-around inspection of the airplane and the airstrip, and noted no abnormalities. He added that he started the engine and did the before-takeoff procedures by memory, without the use the preflight checklist. The pilot said that during takeoff, as the airplane climbed to about 50 feet above the ground (agl), the engine lost all power. The pilot stated he had insufficient airspeed or altitude to transition to a landing attitude which resulted in a hard landing near the departure end of the site. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings detached at the rear attachment point. In the pilot's written statement dated August 22, 2014, which was included in the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) the pilot stated that he had failed to move the fuel valves into the "on" position prior to engine start, which resulted in fuel starvation and a total loss of power after takeoff. The pilot also reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot noted in the recommendation section of the Form 6120.1 that the accident could have been prevented if he used the checklists and avoided distractions while completing the checklists. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N957TT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N957TT-2014-10-10), registration cancelled 2014-10-10, S/N 7-7355, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TERRY W. THAYER ZENITH STOL CH701 - Registry model: [Thayer Terry W ZENITH STOL CH701](https://openairdocs.org/model/thayer-terry-w-zenith-stol-ch701) (registry code 05629VJ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 7-7355 - Year built: 2011 - Airframe hours: 60.6 - Engines: ROTAX 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 2, 2014 - Departed: AK73, Nikiski, AK - Destination: AK73, Nikiski, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 147.6 total, 69 in this make and model, 76.1 as pilot in command, 14.1 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: PAEN, 17 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20140818016649A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140818016649A), Aug 18, 2014: Thayer Terry W ZENITH STOL CH701, Kenai, AK, Substantial damage. The aircraft [privacy data omitted]pilot of this experimental amateur-built aircraft, a zenith stol CH701 kit aircraft, called the Kenai flight service station… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 8, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89909. 644 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 644 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40420738&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF 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. --- 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.