# NTSB CEN09CA391: Shultz Jeffrey D Sonex, N604X, Mena, AR, June 25, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 24, 2009, 19:29 local (Jun 25, 2009, 00:29 UTC) - Place: Mena, AR - Coordinates: 34.537223, -94.228614 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5372&lon=-94.2286&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74143 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA391 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74143/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74143 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA391 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Shultz Jeffrey D SONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05621RX), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-descent: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Shultz Jeffrey D SONEX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05621RX), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot established a descent from a cruise altitude of 8,500 feet for an approach and landing to refuel on the second leg of a cross-country flight. At an altitude of about 5,000 feet, the engine stopped producing power. The pilot attempted to restore power by adjusting the throttle, mixture, and magnetos. The engine lost power completely. The pilot then attempted a restart and was unsuccessful. A forced landing was made to an open field between two rows of houses. During the landing roll, the airplane's wings hit a stop sign and several trees. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector on scene, the engine had compression, turned over by hand, and showed no outward signs of failure. No reason could be determined for the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative The private pilot established a descent from a cruise altitude of 8500 feet for approach to refuel on his second leg of a cross-country flight. At an altitude of about 5000 feet the engine stopped producing power. The pilot attempted to restore power by adjusting the throttle, mixture, and magnetos. The engine quit completely. The pilot then attempted a restart and was unsuccessful. A forced landing was made to an open field between two rows of houses. During the landing roll the airplane wings hit a stop sign and several trees and sustained substantial damage. The pilot was not injured. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector on scene, the engine had compression, turned over by hand, and showed no outward signs of failure. No reason could be determined for the engine failure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N604X](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N604X-2009-12-14), registration cancelled 2009-12-14, S/N 604, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SHULTZ JEFFREY D SONEX - Registry model: [Shultz Jeffrey D SONEX](https://openairdocs.org/model/shultz-jeffrey-d-sonex) (registry code 05621RX) (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: 604 - Engines: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: F44, Athens, TX - Destination: KMEZ, Mena, AR - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: KMEZ, Mena Intermountain Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 34; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review March 19, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 334 total, 95 in this make and model, 253 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KMEZ, 3 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 20090624009549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090624009549A), Jun 24, 2009: Amtr SONEX, Mena, AR, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 24, 2009, at approximately 1930 hours, N604X, ser number:604, an experimental amateur built aircraft, being operated by a certificated private… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 17, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74143. 142 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 142 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317481&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.