# NTSB CEN17LA205: Amstutz Curtis J BD-5B, N604KA, Portland, IN, May 26, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 26, 2017, 17:20 local (21:20 UTC) - Place: Portland, IN - Coordinates: 40.451946, -84.979721 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.4519&lon=-84.9797&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: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 15, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95270 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA205 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95270/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95270 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA205 ## Probable cause A failure of the wiring between the engine control unit and the fuel injector, which resulted in a total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Electrical power system: electrical pwr sys wiring](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022497): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Amstutz Curtis J BD-5B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022497/cases.md?model=05626KI), [All aircraft, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022497/cases.md) - [Terrain: wet/muddy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Amstutz Curtis J BD-5B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md?model=05626KI), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Amstutz Curtis J BD-5B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05626KI), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Amstutz Curtis J BD-5B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05626KI), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Amstutz Curtis J BD-5B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05626KI), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Amstutz Curtis J BD-5B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05626KI), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot, who was the builder of the airplane, stated that the purpose of the test flight was to obtain rate of climb data on the airplane, which had recently been completed. Following the sixth climb of the flight, the engine began to run rough. The pilot turned back toward the airport and entered the traffic pattern, and the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot determined that the airplane would not reach the runway and performed an off-airport landing in a field. The field was soft and contained high vegetation, which resulted in a ground loop during landing. The pilot noted that, during the flight, the No. 1 cylinder exhaust gas temperature and cylinder head temperature had dropped, indicating that the No. 1 cylinder was not firing properly. It was after the No. 1 cylinder quit firing that the No. 2 cylinder also quit firing. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the wire in the No. 1 cylinder connector between the engine control unit and the fuel injector was not properly crimped at the connector, which allowed the wire to be pulled back. In addition, a wire to the No. 2 connector was found broken where the wire had been spliced. This wire most likely separated at the spliced area due to engine vibrations after the No. 1 cylinder ceased operating. ## Factual narrative On May 26, 2017, at 1720 eastern daylight time, an Amstutz BD-5B amateur built airplane, N604KA, was involved in an off airport forced landing, following a loss of engine power in Portland, Indiana. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by an individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as an engineering test flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight originated from the Portland Municipal Airport (PLD), Portland, Indiana, at 1650.The pilot reported the airplane had 5.8 flight hours since he completed building it and the purpose of the flight was to obtain rate of climb data. Following the 6th climb, while at an altitude of 3,500 ft above mean seal level, the engine began to run rough. The pilot entered a left downwind at PLD and descended for a landing approach. The pilot reported he switched fuel tanks and performed a magneto check, neither of which corrected the engine roughness. The pilot noticed the cylinder head temperature and the exhaust gas temperature for the No. 1 cylinder decreased, indicating the No. 1 cylinder was not firing. As he turned onto base leg, the engine lost all power. The pilot realized he was not going to be able to make it to the runway, so he selected a field in which to land. The field contained 3 ft tall vegetation and was soft from recent rain. About 170 ft into the landing roll, the landing gear collapsed, and the airplane ground looped which resulted in damage to the flaps, ailerons, and horizontal stabilator. The airplane was equipped with a 2-cycle, 2-cylinder Hirth 3203E engine. A postaccident inspection of the engine by the pilot revealed there were separated wires in the connectors between the engine control unit (ECU) and the fuel injectors for both the No. 1 and No. 2 cylinders. The wires for the No. 1 cylinder connector appeared to be crimped properly with the insulation reaching the crimped connector. The pilot tugged on the wire and about 1/2 inch of the copper wire came out of the insulation. The pilot removed the connector for the No. 2 cylinder and found a broken wire at the splice connector that he had installed the month prior to the accident. The pilot stated that the engine was about 15 years old, even though the engine had 15 hours of total operating time. It is unknown when the No. 1 cylinder connector was installed on the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N604KA](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N604KA-2018-01-09), registration cancelled 2018-01-09, S/N 1, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMSTUTZ CURTIS J BD-5B - Registry model: [Amstutz Curtis J BD-5B](https://openairdocs.org/model/amstutz-curtis-j-bd-5b) (registry code 05626KI) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Hirth 3203](https://openairdocs.org/engine/hirth-3203) (registry code 33733, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Year built: 2016 - Airframe hours: 5.8 - Engines: Hirth 3203E 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 26, 2016 - Departed: PLD, Portland, IN - Destination: PLD, Portland, IN - Airport: PLD, Portland Municipal ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: center; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 212 total, 6 in this make and model, 183 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: PLD, 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 20170526008939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170526008939A), May 26, 2017: Amstutz Curtis J BD-5B, Portland, IN, Substantial damage. On may 26, 2017, about 1720 eastern standard time, an experimental amatuer built aircraft bede BD-5B N604KA, departed Portland municipal airport. During the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 28, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95270. 4.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466096&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Engine Examination (item 2, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466097&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Examination-Master.PDF - Photos (item 3, .PDF, 2 photos, 414 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466098&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-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.