# NTSB CEN09CA531: Fisher Michael H T-BIRD II, N5559A, Dundee, OH, August 16, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 15, 2009, 19:40 local (Aug 16, 2009, 00:40 UTC)
- Place: Dundee, OH
- Coordinates: 40.553054, -81.584442 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5531&lon=-81.5844&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report December 15, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA  Cleveland FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 74551
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA531
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74551/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74551
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA531

## Probable cause

A total loss of engine power due to the failure of the outer crankshaft seal.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Fisher Michael H T-BIRD II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=05903YV), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md)
- [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng rear section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058540): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Fisher Michael H T-BIRD II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058540/cases.md?model=05903YV), [All aircraft, 42 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058540/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Fisher Michael H T-BIRD II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05903YV), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Fisher Michael H T-BIRD II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05903YV), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Fisher Michael H T-BIRD II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05903YV), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

While flying at an altitude of 400 to 500 feet above the ground the engine lost power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. The airplane contacted an embankment during an off-airport emergency landing in a corn field, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot reported that the outer crankshaft seal on the ignition side of the engine was not fully functional, resulting in a drop in vacuum pressure and a subsequent loss of fuel pressure. The pilot did not hold a pilot certificate.

## Factual narrative

While flying at an altitude of 400 to 500 feet above the ground, the engine lost power. The pilot stated he attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. The airplane contacted an embankment during an off airport emeregency landing in a corn field. The pilot reported the outer crankshaft seal on the ignition side of the engine was not fully functional resulting in a drop in vacuum pressure, and subsequently a loss of fuel pressure. The pilot did not hold a pilot certificate.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5559A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5559A-2017-07-14), registration cancelled 2017-07-14, S/N TB2-001, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: FISHER MICHAEL H T-BIRD II
- Registry model: [Fisher Michael H T-BIRD II](https://openairdocs.org/model/fisher-michael-h-t-bird-ii) (registry code 05903YV) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 618](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-618) (registry code 55578, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: TB2-001
- Engines: ROTAX 618 75 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Fisher Michael H
- Registered owner: Fisher Michael H
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: Strasburg, OH
- Destination: Dundee, OH

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 52; flight hours: 100 total, 50 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 300° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: CAK, 27 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 20090815016849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090815016849A), Aug 15, 2009: Amtr TBIRDII, Dundee, OH, Substantial damage. Aircraft took off from a picnic in strasburg, Ohio. Aircraft climbed to about 500 feet when the engine shut off. Pilot restarted the engine for a brief time…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 25, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74551. 829 KB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 606 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319219&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Ohio State Highway Patrol Report (item 2, .PDF, 223 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319220&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Ohio%20State%20Highway%20Patrol%20Report-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.

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