# NTSB CEN17LA338: Golden Eagle Chief, N68N, Mt. Zion, IL, September 3, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 3, 2017, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC) - Place: Mt. Zion, IL - Coordinates: 39.744167, -88.919441 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7442&lon=-88.9194&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 95955 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA338 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95955/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95955 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA338 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Golden Eagle CHIEF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=3840102), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Golden Eagle CHIEF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=3840102), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Golden Eagle CHIEF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=3840102), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Golden Eagle CHIEF, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=3840102), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot and passenger were conducting a cross-country flight in the experimental, amateur-built airplane. While in cruise flight about 1 hour after takeoff, the engine experienced a total loss of power and the pilot performed a forced landing in a bean field. The airplane nosed over after touchdown, crushing the top of the rudder. The pilot told Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors that, before moving the airplane to its hangar following the accident, he drained the fuel tanks because he did not want fuel leaking on the hangar floor. He reported that he drained 13 gallons; this could not be confirmed by the FAA inspectors. A cursory examination of the engine established drive train continuity when the propeller was turned by hand; however, based on the available information, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On September 3, 2017, about 1615 central daylight time, a Golden Eagle Chief, N68N, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it nosed over in a bean field near Mt. Zion, Illinois. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger on board the airplane were not injured. The cross-country flight originated from Macomb (MQB), Illinois, and was en route to Mattoon, (MTO), Illinois. The pilot told Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors that the engine lost power. His first thought was that it was a fuel issue. He made a forced landing in a bean field and the airplane nosed over on its back. The top of the rudder was crushed. The pilot said there was fuel in the tanks at the accident site. Despite numerous requests, the pilot refused to complete the NTSB's Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report (Form 6120.1-2). He told the FAA inspector that he planned to sell the wreckage and would not repair it. The following, therefore, is based on information supplied by FAA inspectors. Prior to moving the airplane to its hangar, the pilot said he drained 13 gallons of fuel from the fuel tanks because he did not want fuel leaking on the hangar floor. By the time FAA inspectors arrived, the airplane had been in the hangar for over 24 hours. The inspector said he had no way of confirming the amount of fuel remaining in the airplane because he did not see any fuel when he arrived. The airplane had been inverted and fuel could have leaked out the vented fuel caps. The fuel tanks, which hold 30 gallons, were filled at Macomb, Illinois. The inspector estimated the flight time from Macomb to Mt. Zion to be about one hour. The inspector turned the propeller by hand and noted drive train continuity. On August 10, 2007, the pilot and N68N were involved in another accident near Hindsboro, Illinois. In that case a forced landing and nose over ensued after the engine lost power, Post-accident examination revealed the number 7 cylinder had separated. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N68N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N68N), registered now, S/N 803 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Golden Eagle Chief - Registry model: [Golden Eagle CHIEF](https://openairdocs.org/model/golden-eagle-chief) (registry code 3840102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Ken Royce 7 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ken-royce-7-series) (registry code 37001, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 803 - Year built: 1929 - Airframe hours: 746 - Engines: Ken Royce 7 Series 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2017, 10 hours before - Departed: KMQB, Macomb, IL - Destination: KMTO, Mattoon, IL - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, unknown; last flight review July 16, 2017; seat: rear; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,472 total, 47 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KMQB ## 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 20170903014069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170903014069A), Sep 3, 2017: Golden Eagle CHIEF, Mt Zion, IL, Substantial damage. On September 3, 2017, about 1615 central daylight time, a Golden Eagle Chief, N68N, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it nosed over in… ## Other investigations on N68N (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI07CA276](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA276), Aug 10, 2007: Golden Eagle Chief (N68N), Hindsboro, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The loss of engine power due to the number seven cylinder's separation during cruise and the crops encountered during the forced landing leading to the airplane nosing over. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 6, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95955. 701 KB in all. - Record of Conversation (item 1, .PDF, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460647&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Master.PDF - Report Photos (item 2, .PDF, 3 photos, 601 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40460648&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Report%20Photos-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.