# NTSB CEN12LA637: Sackman Sackman Special, N4760R, Ste. Genevieve, MO, August 11, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 11, 2012, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Ste. Genevieve, MO - Coordinates: 37.970218, -90.04026 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.9702&lon=-90.0403&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 18, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 85051 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA637 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85051/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85051 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA637 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power during a low level maneuver due to oil starvation for reasons that could not be determined during postaccident examination. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: oil](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Sackman Randal D SACKMAN SPECIAL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md?model=05615E0), [All aircraft, 174 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Sackman Randal D SACKMAN SPECIAL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05615E0), [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. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Sackman Randal D SACKMAN SPECIAL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05615E0), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Sackman Randal D SACKMAN SPECIAL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05615E0), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot flew his amateur-built airplane on a local flight, after which he returned to the departure airport and performed a low approach down the departure runway. At midfield, the pilot applied full power, started a climb, and the engine began to lose power. The pilot indicated that he pushed the control yoke forward to begin a descent when the airplane was about 50 feet above ground level and started a right turn to return to the runway. The airplane descended and impacted a cornfield near the runway threshold. The airplane nosed over during the contact with the corn and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and the wings. The loss of engine power was due to a loss of oil; however, the reason for the loss of oil could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On August 11, 2012, about 1330 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Sackman Sackman Special biplane, impacted high vegetation and terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power on climbout from the Ste. Genevieve Flying Club Airport (6MO2), near Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. The sport pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The biplane sustained substantial fuselage and wing damage. The biplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed for the flight, which did not operate on a flight plan. The local flight originated from 6MO2 at time unknown. According to the pilot’s accident report, the pilot flew the airplane from 6MO2 and performed three or four wingovers. He flew a low approach with the airplane from north to south down the departure runway. At midfield, he applied full power, started a climb, and the engine began to lose power. The pilot indicated that he pushed the nose over about 50 feet above ground level and started a right turn to return to the runway. The airplane descended during the turn and impacted a cornfield near the runway threshold. The airplane nosed over during the contact with the corn. A postaccident examination of the engine by the builder/pilot attributed the loss of engine power due to oil starvation. The reason for the loss of oil could not be determined. The builder/pilot’s safety recommendation was to monitor gauges more often and install a low oil pressure warning light. At 1335, the recorded weather about 58 degrees and 18 miles from the accident site at the Sparta Community Airport-Hunter Field, near Sparta, Illinois, was: Wind calm; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 27 degrees C; dew point -11 degrees C; altimeter 30.02 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4760R](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4760R), registered now, S/N 003, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SACKMAN SACKMAN SPECIAL - Registry model: [Sackman Randal D SACKMAN SPECIAL](https://openairdocs.org/model/sackman-randal-d-sackman-special) (registry code 05615E0) (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: 003 - Airframe hours: 491.2 - Engines: VW 1915 cc 70 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 8, 2012 - Departed: 6MO2, Ste. Genevieve, MO - Destination: 6MO2, Ste Genevieve, MO - Airport: 6MO2, Ste Genevieve Flying Club Arpt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; seat: single; flight hours: 319 total, 291 in this make and model, 293 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 12 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: SAR, 18 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 20120811021139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120811021139A), Aug 11, 2012: Sackman Randal D SACKMAN SPECIAL, Ste Genevieve, MO, Substantial damage. Pilot reported that he had departed Ste Genevieve MO airport grass runway to the north. He turned to the north east and climbed to approximately 2000 feet MSL… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 10, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85051. 638 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 638 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388339&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.