# NTSB CEN18LA178: Peet Charles Zenith CH 701, N44CP, Jackson, WY, May 16, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 16, 2018, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Jackson, WY - Coordinates: 43.288887, -110.65305 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2889&lon=-110.6530&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97272 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA178 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97272/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97272 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA178 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot’s failure to maintain proper control of the airplane, which led to a hard, bounced landing. ## 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 · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Peet Charles ZENITH CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=05629SE), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Peet Charles ZENITH CH 701, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05629SE), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Peet Charles ZENITH CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05629SE), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern downwind: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340); cases with it: [Peet Charles ZENITH CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=05629SE), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Peet Charles ZENITH CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05629SE), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Peet Charles ZENITH CH 701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05629SE), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that had just finished rebuilding the airplane and was conducting a local, personal flight, which was the airplane’s first flight since an accident 5 years earlier. While returning to land on a grass strip and shortly after switching from the right to the left tank, the engine began to run roughly and “sputter.” The pilot added that the airplane was “high and fast” on the approach but that he chose to continue the landing due to the engine problem. Upon landing, the airplane bounced, the nosewheel hit the ground hard and collapsed, and the airplane then nosed over and came to rest inverted. Postaccident engine examination revealed no evidence off mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the airplane had an adequate amount of fuel onboard when the engine lost power. He added that the quick fuel disconnect on the left wing fuel tank was loose before the flight, so he reconnected the fitting and speculated that air might have entered the lines when he reconnected the fitting and led to the engine sputtering when he switched tanks. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available information. ## Factual narrative On May 16, 2018, about 1400 mountain daylight time, a Zenith 701 airplane, N44CP, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Jackson, Wyoming. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he had just finished rebuilding the airplane and that the accident flight was the first flight since an accident about 5 years earlier. While returning to land on a grass strip and shortly after switching from the right to the left fuel tank, the engine began to run roughly and “sputter.” The pilot reported that he did not attempt to switch back to the right tank because the airplane to too low and he was “just trying to get to the runway.” He added that the airplane was “high and fast” on the approach but that he chose to continue the landing due to the engine problem. Upon landing, the airplane bounced, the nosewheel hit the ground hard and collapsed, and the airplane then nosed over and came to rest inverted. Postaccident engine examination revealed no evidence of any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the airplane had an adequate amount of fuel onboard at the time of the accident. He added that a fuel quick disconnect from the left wing fuel tank was loose before the flight, so he reconnected the fitting and speculated that air might have entered the fuel lines when he reconnected it or that the fuel may have been “bad” because the airplane had been sitting for 5 years. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N44CP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N44CP-2018-08-28), registration cancelled 2018-08-28, S/N 7-7365, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PEET CHARLES ZENITH CH 701 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Peet Charles ZENITH CH 701](https://openairdocs.org/model/peet-charles-zenith-ch-701) (registry code 05629SE) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 7-7365 - Year built: 2011 - Airframe hours: 59.7 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 17, 2013, 0.05 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: Priv, N/A, runway N/A, 1,500 × 50 ft, dirt - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 85; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 944.7 total, 59.7 in this make and model, 826.1 as pilot in command, 0.3 in the last 90 days, 0.3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: JAC, 22 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 20180516005419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180516005419A), May 16, 2018: Peet Charles ZENITH CH 701, Jackson, WY, Substantial damage. Engine running rough pilot made emergency landing, hit hard and flipped aircraft. ## Other investigations on N44CP (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 WPR13CA297](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA297), Jun 28, 2013: Charles Peet Zenith CH 701 (N44CP), Jackson, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed to avoid an aerodynamic stall during takeoff/initial climb. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 26, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97272. 5.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 778 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11662061&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN18LA178%20completed%206120%20for%20docket_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident site photographs (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11661975&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN18LA178%20Photos%20for%20docket-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record of information provided by the FAA (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11661785&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20for%20Info%20from%20FAA-Rel.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.