# NTSB CEN17LA117: Jude Mike C Side Winder, N7524V, Paynesville, MN, March 4, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 4, 2017, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Paynesville, MN - Coordinates: 45.369998, -94.756385 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.3700&lon=-94.7564&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report April 9, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 94815 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA117 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94815/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94815 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA117 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inadequate preflight inspection, during which he failed to ensure that there was sufficient coolant in the engine reservoir, which resulted in the engine getting too hot and the engine control module shutting down the engine. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: coolant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071025): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Jude Mike C SIDE WINDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071025/cases.md?model=05625GW), [All aircraft, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071025/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Jude Mike C SIDE WINDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=05625GW), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/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: [Jude Mike C SIDE WINDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05625GW), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Jude Mike C SIDE WINDER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05625GW), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was going to practice touch-and-go landings; during the first takeoff, he smelled engine coolant. As he turned onto the downwind leg, the engine lost total power. Unable to reach the runway, the pilot chose to conduct a forced landing in a field. Although the pilot stated that he checked the engine coolant level during the preflight inspection, a postaccident examination of the airplane revealed an insufficient amount of coolant in the reservoir. The radiator did not contain any coolant, and no leaks were detected in the coolant system. No other anomalies were noted with the engine. Given the small amount of coolant in the system and the lack of any leaks, it is likely that the pilot did not ensure that a sufficient amount of coolant was in the engine reservoir before takeoff, which resulted in the engine getting too hot and the engine control module shutting down the engine as designed. ## Factual narrative On March 4, 2017, at 1330 central standard time, N7524V, an amateur built experimental Jude Side Winder airplane, was substantially damaged during an off airport forced landing in Paynesville, Minnesota, following a loss of engine power. The private pilot was seriously injured. The aircraft 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 was not operated on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Leaders/Clear Lake Airport (8Y6), Clear Lake, Minnesota, at 1300.The pilot reported he flew to the Paynesville Municipal Airport (PEX), with the intention of performing touch and go landings. He made the first landing and was taking off when the accident occurred. The pilot reported that during the initial climb and turn onto the crosswind leg, he smelled engine coolant. As he made the turn onto the downwind leg, the engine lost power. He stated he did not believe he could make it back to the runway, so he chose a field in which to make a forced landing. The field that the pilot selected for the landing was soft. As a result, the airplane was substantially damaged during the landing. The pilot stated he checked the fluid levels, including the engine coolant, during the airplane preflight inspection. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed a small amount of engine coolant in the coolant reservoir which was below the level of the standpipe. The radiator did not contain any coolant and no leaks were detected in the coolant system. The electric cooling fan for the radiator was free to turn. The airplane was equipped with a Chevrolet LS-1 engine and an engine control module that would shut down the engine if it was running too hot. No other anomalies were noted with the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7524V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7524V-2019-02-05), registration cancelled 2019-02-05, S/N 212624, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: JUDE MIKE C SIDE WINDER (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Jude Mike C SIDE WINDER](https://openairdocs.org/model/jude-mike-c-side-winder) (registry code 05625GW) (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: 212624 - Year built: 2009 - Airframe hours: 277.6 - Engines: General Motors 346cc LSI 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: 8Y6, Clear Lake, MN - Destination: PEX, Paynesville, MN - Airport: PEX, Paynesville Muni, runway 29, 3,302 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 4, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 400 total, 250 in this make and model, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 12 knots, gusting 16 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 27 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: PEX, 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 20170304003089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170304003089A), Mar 4, 2017: Jude Mike C SIDE WINDER, Paynesville, MN, Substantial damage. Aircraft was flying from leaders/clear lake airport, MN to Paynesville airport, MN for practice approaches. During the climb out after a touch and go/balked… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 20, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94815. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460219&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Wreckage Examination Statement (item 2, .PDF, 15 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460220&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Wreckage%20Examination%20Statement-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.