- Date
- March 14, 2009, 11:40 local (17:40 UTC)
- Place
- Fort Morgan, CO
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N130WMMarlman Stol CH 801
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 11, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20090314001969A
- Case key
- 73499
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The complete loss of engine power, as reported by the pilot, for undetermined reasons.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
Shortly after rotation and about 50 feet above the runway, the airplane's engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot pitched the airplane's nose over, but was unable to arrest the descent before impacting the runway. The airplane came to rest in a nose-down position and both occupants were able to exit unassisted. Following the airplane's recovery, the engine was started and operated from idle through 2,500 rpm with no observed problems. An examination of the fuel tank, the fuel filter, and the fuel lines failed to reveal any anomalies or obstructions which would have restricted the fuel flow. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.
Factual narrative
On March 14, 2009, about 1140 mountain daylight time, a single-engine Marlman STOL CH 801 airplane, N130WM, was substantially damaged during impact with the runway, following a complete loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from the Fort Morgan Municipal Airport (FMM), Fort Morgan, Colorado. The private pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The 60-nautical mile cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident and was destined for the Erie Municipal Airport (EIK), near Erie, Colorado. According to the pilot, shortly after rotation and about 50-feet above the runway, the engine experienced a complete loss of power. The pilot pitched the airplane's nose over, but was unable to arrest the descent before impacting the runway. The airplane came to rest on the runway, in a nose down position, and both occupants were able to exit unassisted. Both wings and the fuselage sustained structural damage during the impact. The airplane was recovered to Beegles Aircraft Services of Greeley, Colorado. An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspected the airplane and provided oversight for an engine run. To facilitate the engine run, the damaged propeller and engine oil filter was replaced with serviceable units. According to the inspector, the engine was started and operated from idle through 2,500 rpm with no observed problems. An examination of the fuel tank, the fuel filter, and the fuel lines failed to reveal any anomalies or obstructions which would have restricted the fuel flow. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined
Aircraft
- Registration
- N130WM
- Reported as
- Marlman Stol CH 801
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 84113
- Airframe hours
- 31
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Fanning Dan W
- Registered owner
- Fanning Dan W
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · July 3, 2008
- Departed
- FMM · Fort Morgan, CO
- Destination
- EIK · Erie, CO
- Airport
- FMM · Fort Morgan Municipal, runway 32, 5,200 × 60 ft, concrete
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 38
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 14, 2007
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 198 total · 20 in this make and model · 102 as pilot in command · 6 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 46 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.88 inHg
- Observed at
- FMM
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.