# NTSB CEN09CA537: Rewey William M CH 801, N171WR, Cottage Grove, WI, August 23, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 23, 2009, 11:28 local (16:28 UTC) - Place: Cottage Grove, WI - Coordinates: 43.079216, -89.19902 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.0792&lon=-89.1990&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-Milwaukee FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74581 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09CA537 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74581/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74581 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA537 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power during initial climb due to fuel starvation from a blocked fuel screen that resulted from the pilot/owner's inadequate inspection and maintenance of the fuel system. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine fuel and control: fuel control/carburetor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Rewey William M CH 801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md?model=056105F), [All aircraft, 195 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md) - [Engine fuel and control: fuel control/carburetor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Rewey William M CH 801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md?model=056105F), [All aircraft, 195 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057322/cases.md) - [Inspection: scheduled/routine inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520): Personnel issues › Task performance · Owner/builder (probable cause); cases with it: [Rewey William M CH 801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520/cases.md?model=056105F), [All aircraft, 167 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061520/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Rewey William M CH 801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=056105F), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Fuel starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191) (defining event); cases with it: [Rewey William M CH 801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=056105F), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Rewey William M CH 801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056105F), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Rewey William M CH 801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=056105F), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Rewey William M CH 801, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=056105F), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the takeoff and initial climb were normal, but that, about 300 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. He lowered the airplane’s nose to establish a glide and set-up for a forced landing. He executed an emergency landing to an area of tall grass adjacent to a pond. The pilot noted that the airplane “stalled out perhaps 5 [feet] or 10 [feet] above the 5 [foot] high grass--then came down hard.” The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rear wing spar and attachment fittings. A postaccident inspection revealed that the carburetor fuel inlet screen was blocked with metal particles, sand, dirt, insects and other debris. The pilot stated that although he had inspected the gascolator screen, he had not inspected the fuel system screens. The pilot was also the owner and builder of the amateur-built airplane. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that the takeoff and initial climb were normal. He stated that about 300 feet above ground level (agl), the engine lost power. He lowered the airplane’s nose to establish a glide and set-up for a forced landing. He executed an emergency landing to an area of tall grass adjacent to a pond. The pilot noted that the airplane “stalled out perhaps 5 [feet] or 10 [feet] above the 5 [foot] high grass – then came down hard.” The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rear wing spar and attachment fittings. A post accident inspection revealed that the carburetor fuel inlet screen was blocked with metal particles, sand, dirt, insects and other debris. The pilot stated that although he had inspected the gascolator screen, he had not inspected the fuel system screens. The pilot was also the owner and builder of the amateur-built airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N171WR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N171WR), registered now, S/N 84197 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: REWEY WILLIAM M CH 801 - Registry model: [Rewey William M CH 801](https://openairdocs.org/model/rewey-william-m-ch-801) (registry code 056105F) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 84197 - Airframe hours: 37 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 13, 2008 - Departed: 87Y, Cottage Grove, WI - Destination: 87Y, Cottage Grove, WI - Airport: 87Y, Blackhawk Airfield, runway 09, 2,203 × 56 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 81; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 25, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 3,500 total, 40 in this make and model, 3,400 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,600 ft broken - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: MSN, 7 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 20090823048989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090823048989A), Aug 23, 2009: Rewey Willi CH 801, Cottage Grove, WI, Substantial damage. On August 23, 2009 at 1128 CDT an amateur built CH-801, N171WR registered to [privacy data omitted] lost power during climbout from black hawk airfield (87),… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74581. 749 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 749 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319316&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.