# NTSB CEN09LA561: Champion 7KCAB, N2629G, Stacy, MN, September 4, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 3, 2009, 19:30 local (Sep 4, 2009, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Stacy, MN - Coordinates: 45.42889, -92.986114 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.4289&lon=-92.9861&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Emergency descent: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report March 3, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-MSP-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74656 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN09LA561 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74656/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74656 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09LA561 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power during initial climb 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: [Champion 7KCAB, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=21101P3), [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. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Champion 7KCAB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=21101P3), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Champion 7KCAB, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=21101P3), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Champion 7KCAB, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=21101P3), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis A witness reported that the airplane had just taken off and that it sounded like the engine was having problems. He reported that the pilot turned the airplane around and was attempting to return to the airstrip. The airplane impacted the ground, bounced, and came to rest inverted. Both wings were separated from the fuselage, which sustained substantial damage. An on-scene inspection of the engine revealed the gascolator bowl was broken away from the engine. Fuel was present in the fuel line leading to the carburetor. Examination of the spark plugs indicated they were blackened with soot. The air intake box was pushed up into the carburetor. The airplane and engine were not accessible for further examination. ## Factual narrative On September 3, 2009, at 1930 central daylight time, a Champion 7KCAB, N2629G, collided with the terrain following a loss of engine power on takeoff from a private airstrip in Stacy, Minnesota. The pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The personal flight was operating under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The airplane took off to the south from the private airstrip just prior to the accident. One of the pilot's sons reported that it sounded like the engine was having problems. He reported the pilot turned the airplane around and was attempting to return to the airstrip to land. The airplane impacted the ground, bounced, and came to rest inverted about 80 feet from the initial impact. An on-scene inspection of the engine revealed the gascolator bowl was broken away from the engine. Fuel was present in the fuel line leading to the carburetor. Examination of the spark plugs indicated they were blackened with soot. The air intake box was pushed up into the carburetor. The airplane and engine were not accessible for further examination. The last annual inspection was performed on November 7, 2006, by the previous aircraft owner. The pilot's last flight review was on August 18, 2006. The last entry in his pilot logbook was dated July 31, 2007. At that time the pilot had logged a total of approximately 150 hours of flight time. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2629G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2629G-2017-06-30), registration cancelled 2017-06-30, S/N 57, built 1967 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHAMPION 7KCAB - Registry model: [Champion 7KCAB](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7kcab) (registry code 21101P3) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 57 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-320 SERIES 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Tacheny Allen R - Registered owner: Tacheny Allen R - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 7, 2006 - Departed: PVT, Stacy, MN - Destination: PVT, Stacy, MN - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: PVT, Private ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; last flight review August 18, 2006; flight hours: 150 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 3 knots - Visibility: 12 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.13 inHg - Observed at: ANE, 25 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 20090903049499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090903049499A), Sep 3, 2009: Champion 7KCAB, Stacy, MN, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed from a private turf strip on his property. Engine lost power during climb out at low altitude and he attempted a 180 degree turn to return to… ## Other investigations on N2629G (1) 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. - [NTSB DEN87LA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87LA063), Mar 5, 1987: Champion 7KCAB (N2629G), Erie, CO, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 3, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74656. 329 KB in all. - Isanti County Sheriff's Report (item 1, .PDF, 229 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320693&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Isanti%20County%20Sheriff%27s%20Report-Master.PDF - Minnesota State Police Report (item 2, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40320694&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Minnesota%20State%20Police%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. --- 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.