# NTSB CEN17LA206: Kenneth B Hines Nieuport 28, N6165, Boonville, MO, June 1, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 31, 2017, 19:20 local (Jun 1, 2017, 00:20 UTC) - Place: Boonville, MO - Coordinates: 38.946666, -92.682777 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9467&lon=-92.6828&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 95274 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA206 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95274/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95274 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA206 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power due to a compromised induction system. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Kenneth B Hines NIEUPORT 28, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=05634KG), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Perception/orientation/illusion: perception](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040): Personnel issues › Psychological · Owner/builder (probable cause); cases with it: [Kenneth B Hines NIEUPORT 28, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040/cases.md?model=05634KG), [All aircraft, 61 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02022040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Prior to flight: Aircraft maintenance event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040); cases with it: [Kenneth B Hines NIEUPORT 28, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md?model=05634KG), [All aircraft, 484 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/040/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Kenneth B Hines NIEUPORT 28, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05634KG), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Kenneth B Hines NIEUPORT 28, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05634KG), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot was attempting to take off on the experimental, amateur-built airplane's first flight. When the airplane was about 30-50 ft in the air, the engine experienced a partial loss of power and the pilot landed on the remaining runway. The airplane landed hard, the landing gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over. Examination of the engine revealed several air leaks in the induction system, including the vacuum takeoff port cap on the carburetor and the rudder seal on the left induction manifold adapter. It is likely that the compromised induction system resulted in the partial loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On June 1, 2017, about 1920 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Nieuport 28 airplane, N6165, experienced a loss of engine power on takeoff and collided with terrain near Boonville, Missouri. The pilot was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a test flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight and a flight plan was not filed. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.According to information provided to the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector by the pilot, the flight was the first for the airplane since built. The pilot had ground-run the engine a couple days prior to the flight. On the day of the accident, the pilot reported that he took off with about 18 gallons of fuel. When the airplane was about 30-50 ft above ground level, the engine "sagged." He pulled the mixture and landed straight ahead on the remaining runway. The landing was "rough" and the airplane landed hard resulting in a collapse of the landing gear. The airplane nosed over resulting insubstantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. Examination of the engine by the FAA inspector revealed several air leaks in the induction system to include the vacuum takeoff port cap on the carburetor and the rudder seal on the left-hand induction manifold adapter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6165](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6165), registered now, S/N 061112, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: KENNETH B HINES NIEUPORT 28 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Kenneth B Hines NIEUPORT 28](https://openairdocs.org/model/kenneth-b-hines-nieuport-28) (registry code 05634KG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Volkswagen 2130](https://openairdocs.org/engine/volkswagen-2130) (registry code 63502, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 061112 - Year built: 2016 - Engines: Volkswagen 2130 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: VER, Boonville, MO - Destination: VER, Boonville, MO - Airport: VER, Jesse Viertel Memorial, runway 36, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; seat: single ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: KVER ## 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 20170531010969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170531010969A), May 31, 2017: Nieuport 28, Boonville, MO, Substantial damage. Shortly after takeoff, aircraft experienced partial loss of power. Pilot pulled mixture and performed straight-ahead landing on same runway. Aircraft nosed… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 10, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95274. 551 KB in all. - Record of Conversation - FAA, Johnson (item 1, .PDF, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461787&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA,%20Johnson-Master.PDF - Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 3 photos, 449 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40461788&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.