# NTSB ATL05CA053: Bennett Ra Oliver Zodiac CH 601 HDS, N2521B, Mt. Olive, NC, February 26, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 26, 2005, 15:40 local (20:40 UTC) - Place: Mt. Olive, NC - Coordinates: 35.225833, -78.040832 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2258&lon=-78.0408&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Greensboro FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61066 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL05CA053 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61066/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL05CA053 ## Probable cause Rupture of the engine's cooling system radiator, which allowed steam to fill the cockpit. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - initial climb - cooling system,radiator - ruptured (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis According to the pilot and the owner, shortly after takeoff the engine coolant radiator burst filling the cockpit with what he thought was smoke, The pilot stated that visibility quickly went to zero and he attempted to release the cockpit canopy to clear the smoke but collided with trees before he could get it open. The wings and under carriage were damaged. Examination of the airplane found that the engine coolant radiator tank failed at the forward belly of the airplane. There was no evidence of a fire. ## Factual narrative On February 26, 2005, at 1540 eastern standard time, an Oliver, Zodiac Ch-601 HDS homebuilt experimental airplane, N2521B, registered to a private individual and operated by the private pilot, collided with trees shortly after takeoff from a private grass strip in Mount Olive, North Carolina. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot received serious injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight originated in Mount Olive, North Carolina on February 26, 2005, at 1530. According to the pilot and the owner, shortly after takeoff the radiator burst filling the cockpit with what he thought was smoke, The pilot stated that visibility quickly went to zero and he attempted to release the cockpit canopy to clear the smoke but impacted trees before he could get it open. The collision with the trees substantially damaged the wings and under carriage. Examination of the airplane found that the radiator tank failed at the forward belly of the airplane. There was no evidence of a fire, and no maintenance history for the radiator was availible. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2521B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2521B-2013-10-23), registration cancelled 2013-10-23, S/N 1, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bennett RA Oliver Zodiac CH 601 HDS - Registry model: [Bennett Ra Oliver ZODIAC CH 601 HDS](https://openairdocs.org/model/bennett-ra-oliver-zodiac-ch-601-hds) (registry code 056075O) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Airframe hours: 68 - Engines: Stratus Subaru EA81 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 21, 2004, 10 hours before - Departed: PVT, Mt. Olive, NC - Destination: PVT, Mount Olive, NC - Airport: PVT, Mount Olive ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; last flight review September 10, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 694 total, 12 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 3 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: GSB, 12 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 20050226003309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050226003309A), Feb 26, 2005: Amtr CH601HDS, Dobbersville, NC, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot reported smoke in cockpit and attempted to land in a field, but due to the smoke obstructing vision, pilot missed the field and landed in the trees. 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.