# NTSB CEN13LA363: Thomsen Avid Flyer MK IV, N6240T, Hibbing, MN, June 20, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 19, 2013, 19:30 local (Jun 20, 2013, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Hibbing, MN - Coordinates: 47.389167, -92.804443 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3892&lon=-92.8044&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA-MSP-FSDO, FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 87253 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA363 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87253/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87253 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA363 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because the postaccident examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## 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: [Thomsen Richard N AVID FLYER MK IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05620DH), [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 (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Thomsen Richard N AVID FLYER MK IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05620DH), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Thomsen Richard N AVID FLYER MK IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05620DH), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that before takeoff, he switched fuel tanks and waited on the ground with the engine idling for another airplane to land. After takeoff, upon reaching an altitude of 700 feet above ground level, the pilot reduced the engine power to about 5,600 rpm. Shortly thereafter, the engine sputtered and lost all power. The pilot made a forced landing in a marsh area, and the airplane nosed over. Wreckage examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal engine operation. ## Factual narrative On June 19, 2013, about 1930 central daylight time, an experimental amateur built Thomsen Avid Flyer MK IV, N6240T, collided with the terrain following a loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from the Range Regional Airport (HIB), Hibbing, Minnesota. The sport pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane received substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from HIB shortly before the accident and the intended destination was the Virginia Municipal Airport (EVM), Eveleth, Minnesota. The pilot stated he landed at HIB to pick up a passenger. He switched fuel tanks prior to takeoff and waited, with the engine idling, approximately 3 minutes for another airplane to land. After takeoff, upon reaching an altitude of 700 feet above ground level, the pilot reduced the engine power to about 5,600 rpm. Shortly thereafter, the engine sputtered and lost all power. The pilot was not able to restart the engine and he subsequently performed a forced landing in a marsh area east of the airport. The landing gear dug into the soft terrain and the airplane nosed over during the landing, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine was conducted by the Federal Aviation Administration. The examination revealed the spark plugs were in good condition with some oil residue. The oil injector tank was ½ to ¾ full of oil. The fuel lines were intact except for those at the wing roots which were disconnected to facilitate the wing removal during the recovery of the airplane. The fuel filter was clean and it contained residual fuel. The fuel pump contained residual fuel as did the line from the fuel pump to the forward carburetor. The fuel line to the aft carburetor did not contain any fuel. The bowl for the forward carburetor was full of fuel and the bowl for the aft carburetor was about ½ full of fuel. The engine turned freely when the propeller was rotated by hand. Fuel is gravity fed from the wings through a fuel selector on-off valve for each tank then into a quart size header tank. The fuel from the header tank then passes through a fuel filter and a fuel shutoff valve prior to the engine. The fuel valves that control the fuel flow from the wings into the header tank were located behind the pilot and above the right seat. The selector valves are quarter turn valves with on/off positions. The valves did not contain detents. The pilot reported the airplane had 18 gallons of fuel on board at takeoff. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6240T](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6240T), registered now, S/N 1045D, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: THOMSEN AVID FLYER MK IV - Registry model: [Thomsen Richard N AVID FLYER MK IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/thomsen-richard-n-avid-flyer-mk-iv) (registry code 05620DH) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1045D - Airframe hours: 145 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: James Chuk - Registered owner: James Chuk - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, December 1, 2012 - Departed: Hibbing, MN - Destination: Hibbing, MN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review June 10, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 552 total, 405 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 7 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KHIB, 1 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 20130619010439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130619010439A), Jun 19, 2013: Thomsen Richard N AVID FLYER MK IV, Hibbing, MN, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed private airstrip at chisholm, MN and landed at Hibbing, MN (hib) to pick up passenger. Aircraft then departed runway 22 at hib after waiting… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 7, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87253. 876 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 732 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412063&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector’s Statement (item 2, .PDF, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412065&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%E2%80%99s%20Statement%20-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (item 3, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40412066&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-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.