# NTSB CEN12CA469: Purtee Kevin M Pietenpol Aircamper, N899KP, Broadhead, WI, July 22, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 22, 2012, 15:40 local (20:40 UTC) - Place: Broadhead, WI - Coordinates: 42.588333, -89.371665 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5883&lon=-89.3717&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report November 26, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 84421 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA469 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84421/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84421 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA469 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to adequately remove water-contaminated fuel during the preflight inspection, which resulted in a total loss of engine power during takeoff, and his decision to initiate a turn back to the runway with insufficient airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Purtee Kevin M PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05627L4), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Purtee Kevin M PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05627L4), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Purtee Kevin M PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md?model=05627L4), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061000/cases.md) - [Fluids: water](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071030): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Inadequate inspection (probable cause); cases with it: [Purtee Kevin M PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071030/cases.md?model=05627L4), [All aircraft, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Purtee Kevin M PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=05627L4), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Purtee Kevin M PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05627L4), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Purtee Kevin M PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05627L4), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot's wife stated that the airplane's engine was running rough prior to the flight and that her husband had drained a significant amount of water from the fuel drain. Once he thought the water was drained from the system, he departed. A witness saw the airplane climb to treetop level and enter a left turn as if the pilot was trying to turn back to the airport when the engine lost power. The airplane then made a hard left turn and descended straight down to the ground, resulting in substantial damage to the firewall, fuselage, and both wings. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed water in the fuel line downstream of the fuel valve. ## Factual narrative The pilot's wife stated that the airplane's engine was running rough prior to the flight and that her husband had drained a significant amount of water from the fuel drain. Once he thought the water was drained from the system he departed. A witness saw the airplane climb to tree top level and enter a left turn as if he was trying to turn back to the airport when the engine quit. The airplane then made a hard left turn and descended straight down to the ground resulting in substantial damage to the firewall, fuselage, and both wings. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed water in the fuel line downstream of the fuel valve. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N899KP](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N899KP), registered now, S/N 001, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PURTEE KEVIN M PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER - Registry model: [Purtee Kevin M PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER](https://openairdocs.org/model/purtee-kevin-m-pietenpol-aircamper) (registry code 05627L4) (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: 001 - Engines: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Purtee Kevin M - Registered owner: Purtee Kevin M - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: C37, Broadhead, WI - Destination: Austin, TX - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: serious; commercial, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: rear; flight hours: 5,000 total, 353 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20120722016119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120722016119A), Jul 22, 2012: Purtee Kevin M PIETENPOL AIRCAMPER, Brodhead, WI, Destroyed. Aircraft lost power shortly after take-off, stalled and spun into cornfield 1/4 mile from airport. Investigation showed water in fuel was likely cause. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84421. 101 KB in all. - Written Statement - FAA Insepctor (item 1, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377379&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Written%20Statement%20-%20FAA%20Insepctor-Master.PDF - FAA Record of Conversation w/witness (item 2, .PDF, 32 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40377525&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20w%2Fwitness-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.