# NTSB CEN09CA423: Lewis Keith O Viggenite, N20VV, Chesterfield, MO, July 8, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 8, 2009, 13:15 local (18:15 UTC) - Place: Chesterfield, MO - Coordinates: 38.662223, -90.651947 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6622&lon=-90.6519&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: 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: FAA-St. Louis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74238 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA423 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74238/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74238 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA423 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for unknown reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Lewis Keith O VIGGENITE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=056190M), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Lewis Keith O VIGGENITE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=056190M), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Lewis Keith O VIGGENITE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056190M), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Lewis Keith O VIGGENITE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056190M), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while in the airport traffic pattern, the airplane's engine lost power just after completing a turn from the crosswind leg to the downwind leg of the pattern. At the time of the engine failure the airplane was about 1,100 feet above mean sea level (approximately 630 feet above ground level). The pilot reported that the airplane abruptly pitched up and he attempted one restart to no avail. He reported that the airplane continued to decelerate with full forward stick pressure. In order to keep the airplane from stalling the pilot rolled the airplane inverted and pulled back on the stick to lower the nose of the airplane. He then rolled the airplane back upright and pulled back to arrest the descent before contacting trees. The pilot reported that the homebuilt airplane is an all aluminum version of the Vari-Viggen design and believed that the pitch up following the loss of power was due to the high thrust line location of the pusher engine configuration. The airplane was powered by a converted Mazda rotary automobile engine. An examination of the engine and fuel system revealed sufficient fuel and fuel within the fuel line to the carburetor. A visual examination of the engine revealed no anomalies. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that while in the airport traffic pattern, the airplane's engine quit just after completing a turn from the crosswind leg to the downwind leg of the pattern. At the time of the engine failure the airplane was about 1,100 feet above mean sea level (approximately 630 feet above ground level). The pilot reported that the airplane abruptly pitched up and he attempted one restart to no avail. He reported that the airplane continued to decelerate with full forward stick pressure. In order to keep the airplane from stalling the pilot rolled the airplane inverted and pulled back on the stick to lower the nose of the airplane. He then rolled the airplane back upright and pulled back to arrest the descent before contacting trees. The pilot reported that the homebuilt airplane is an all aluminum version of the Vari-Viggen design and believed that the pitch up following the loss of power was due to the high thrust line location of the pusher engine configuration. The airplane was powered by a converted Mazda rotary automobile engine. An examination of the engine and fuel system revealed sufficient fuel and fuel within the fuel line to the carburetor. A visual examination of the engine revealed no anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N20VV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N20VV-2012-10-30), registration cancelled 2012-10-30, S/N 014, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LEWIS KEITH O VIGGENITE - Registry model: [Lewis Keith O VIGGENITE](https://openairdocs.org/model/lewis-keith-o-viggenite) (registry code 056190M) (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: 014 - Airframe hours: 32 - Engines: Mazda 13B` 185 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 9, 2008 - Departed: SUS, Chesterfield, MO - Destination: SUS, Chesterfield, MO - Airport: SUS, Spirit of St. Louis, runway 26R, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 19, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 13,000 total, 2 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: KSUS ## 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 20090708011699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090708011699A), Jul 8, 2009: Amtr VIGGENITE, St Louis, MO, Destroyed. (-23) The pilot stated the engine failed after turning onto a right downwind for runway 26R at ksus. The pilot attempted a quick restart but to no avail. The… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 18, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74238. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317311&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.