# NTSB CEN15LA020: Kovars Gary D Zenith Zodiak 601XL, N601GK, Richland Center, WI, October 9, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 9, 2014, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Richland Center, WI - Coordinates: 43.283332, -90.298057 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2833&lon=-90.2981&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 17, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 90279 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN15LA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90279/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90279 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN15LA020 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to carburetor icing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Temp/humidity/pressure: conducive to carburetor icing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Kovars Gary D ZENITH ZODIAK 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md?model=05616OK), [All aircraft, 435 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Kovars Gary D ZENITH ZODIAK 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05616OK), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot and flight instructor were practicing takeoffs and landings. During the fourth takeoff, the engine started running roughly and losing power; it then stopped producing power. They subsequently conducted a forced landing to a field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the nose landing gear. Both wing fuel tanks contained fuel. An examination of the airframe, engine, and related systems revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of carburetor icing at glide and cruise power settings. Therefore, it is likely that carburetor ice accumulated during the landing and was present at takeoff, which resulted in the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On October 9, 2014, about 1400 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Zenith Zodiak 601XL airplane, N601GK, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Richland Airport (93C), Richland Center, Wisconsin. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The flight originated from 93C approximately 1357. The pilot and flight instructor were practicing takeoffs and landings. During the fourth takeoff, the engine started to run rough and lose power. It then stopped producing power. During the forced landing to a field, the nose landing gear separated and the left main landing gear was damaged. The firewall was wrinkled and the left wing spar was bent. An examination of the airplane, conducted under the auspices of a Federal Aviation Administration inspector determined that the fuel system was intact, the connection at the electric fuel pump was impact damaged, and both wing fuel tanks contained fuel. The fuel screens were clean and the engine started and ran without issues for two to three minutes. There were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane or related systems that would have precluded normal operation. The temperature was 15 degrees Celsius (C) and the dew point temperature was minus 1 degree C. A review of the current carburetor icing chart established that the flight environment was conducive for carburetor icing at glide and cruise power settings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N601GK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N601GK), registered now, S/N 4696, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: KOVARS GARY D ZENITH ZODIAK 601XL - Registry model: [Kovars Gary D ZENITH ZODIAK 601XL](https://openairdocs.org/model/kovars-gary-d-zenith-zodiak-601xl) (registry code 05616OK) (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: 4696 - Year built: 2004 - Engines: Jabiru 3300A 120 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 1, 2014, 289.7 hours before - Departed: 93C, Richland Center, WI - Destination: 93C, Richland Center, WI - Airport: 93C, Richland Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 7, 2012; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 608 total, 290 in this make and model, 608 as pilot in command, 13.5 in the last 90 days, 5.5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KLNR, 7 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 20141009017979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20141009017979A), Oct 9, 2014: Kovars Gary D ZENITH ZODIAK 601XL, Richland Center, WI, Substantial damage. On October 9, 2014 at 1410 CDT a zenith zodiak 601XL, N601GK, made a hard landing in a field after experiencing engine power loss in Richland Center, WI. No… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 18, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90279. 840 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 720 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422633&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422634&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Carburetor Icing Chart (item 3, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40422635&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20Chart-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.