# NTSB CEN17LA180: Brokaw Bergon F Zodiac, N1041N, Orangeville, IL, May 12, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 11, 2017, 19:45 local (May 12, 2017, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Orangeville, IL - Coordinates: 42.472499, -89.64833 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4725&lon=-89.6483&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 January 25, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO, Rotax Aircraft engines - Rotech Flight Safety - NTSB case key (mKey): 95163 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA180 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95163/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95163 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA180 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Brokaw Bergon F ZODIAC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=056046T), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not specified; cases with it: [Brokaw Bergon F ZODIAC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md?model=056046T), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/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 starvation](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191); cases with it: [Brokaw Bergon F ZODIAC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md?model=056046T), [All aircraft, 733 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/191/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Brokaw Bergon F ZODIAC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056046T), [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: [Brokaw Bergon F ZODIAC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056046T), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot returned to a private airstrip after a 35-minute flight and planned to perform a touch-and-go takeoff. However, after takeoff and while climbing, the engine started to run rough and then lost power. The pilot selected a field for the forced landing, during which the airplane impacted terrain hard and then came to rest upright. An examination of the airplane revealed that the right fuel tank appeared empty, that fuel was visible in the left tank, and that only residual fuel remained in the header tank, which was breached during the accident. A fuel pump circuit breaker was found open, and the fuel selector was found in the "off" position. The examination of the engine revealed that the engine's three-bladed propeller did not exhibit rotational signatures, indicating that the engine was not running at impact. The spark plugs were removed and appeared normal. The engine was then rotated by hand, and thumb compression and continuity through the drive/valve train were established. Both carburetor float bowls were removed and were empty of fuel; no contaminants or obstructions were noted. The gascolator was removed, and only a small amount of fuel was found; the fuel pump was removed, and only minimal fuel was found. An engine test run was then conducted at power, and the engine ran for several minutes; no anomalies were noted. The fuel source was removed to see how long the engine would run on the residual fuel in the system. Within several minutes, the engine began running rough and then lost power. A postrun examination of the carburetor float bowls, fuel pump, and gascolator revealed an absence of fuel in each, similar to their condition before the engine test run. The accident is consistent with fuel starvation, likely due to the fuel not transferring from a wing fuel tank to the header tank, either due to an open fuel pump circuit or because the right wing fuel tank was empty. ## Factual narrative On May 11, 2017, about 1945 central daylight time, a Brokaw Bergon Zodiac airplane, N1041N conducted a forced landing near Orangeville, Illinois. The pilot received serious injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged during the accident. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The pilot reported that he had flown for 35 minutes and planned to do another takeoff and landing at his private airstrip. Just after the takeoff and while he was in the climb, the engine started to run rough and then lost power. The pilot selected a hay field for the forced landing; however, the airplane impacted terrain hard and came then to rest up-right. The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector noted substantial damage to the airplane's fuselage and wings. The right wing fuel tank appeared empty, fuel was visible in the left wing fuel tank, and only residual fuel remained in the header tank, which appeared to have been breached during the impact. A fuel pump circuit breaker was also open, and the fuel selector was in the off position. The airplane was recovered to the pilot's hangar, and an examination was conducted by an FAA inspector and a technical representative from the engine manufacturer on May 20, 2017. The engine's three bladed propeller (with one broken blade) was absent rotational signatures; the sparkplugs were removed and appeared normal. The engine was then rotated by hand and a thumb compression and continuity check through the drive/valve train was established. Both carburetor float bowls were removed and were empty of fuel; no contaminants or obstructions were noted. The gascolator was removed and only a small amount of fuel was found. The fuel line to the gascolator was then placed in a container of automobile fuel. The engine was then started and run to power for several minutes; no abnormalities were noted. With the fuel source removed, the engine ran rough, then lost power. A post run examination of the carburetor float bowls, fuel pump, and gascolator found levels of fuel similar to that found prior to the engine run. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1041N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1041N-2019-02-07), registration cancelled 2019-02-07, S/N 6-3013-HDS, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BROKAW BERGON F ZODIAC (HD) - Registry model: [Brokaw Bergon F ZODIAC](https://openairdocs.org/model/brokaw-bergon-f-zodiac) (registry code 056046T) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 6-3013-HDS - Year built: 1997 - Airframe hours: 196.6 - Engines: BOMBARDIER ROTAX 912 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, March 21, 2010 - Departed: Orangeville, IL - Destination: Orangeville, IL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 3, 2007; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 560 total, 97 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,800 ft broken - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: KFEP ## 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 20170511021479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170511021479A), May 11, 2017: Brokaw Bergon F ZODIAC, Orangeville, IL, Substantial damage. The PIC was flying at approximately 500' AGL and was returning to his property and indicated that he lost engine power. The aircraft crashed, was substantially… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 16, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95163. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 993 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458109&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memo (item 2, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458110&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memo-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.