# NTSB CEN20LA107: Zenith CH601, N601ND, Cabool, MO, February 29, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 29, 2020, 15:34 local (21:34 UTC) - Place: Cabool, MO - Coordinates: 37.132499, -92.083885 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1325&lon=-92.0839&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration; St Louis FSDO, Federal Aviation Administration; Little Rock FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101016 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA107 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101016/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101016 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA107 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to failure of the No. 1 cylinder piston for reasons that could not be determined based on available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Paul Darrell Ownby ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=05632UO), [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Paul Darrell Ownby ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=05632UO), [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Paul Darrell Ownby ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=05632UO), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Paul Darrell Ownby ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=05632UO), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000); cases with it: [Paul Darrell Ownby ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=05632UO), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Paul Darrell Ownby ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05632UO), [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: [Paul Darrell Ownby ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05632UO), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Paul Darrell Ownby ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05632UO), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the personal flight stated that, after departure, the cockpit filled with smoke and the airplane then experienced a total loss of engine power. The pilot attempted to return to the departure airport but landed in a field short of the airport runway; the airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed the No. 1 piston was broken in two pieces, and the piston crank link was bent. The reason for the failures was unknown. ## Factual narrative On February 29, 2020, at 1534 central standard time, an experimental amateur-built Zodiac 601XLB, N601ND, was involved in an accident near Cabool Memorial Airport (TVB), Cabool, Missouri. The pilot and passenger were uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, the cockpit "suddenly" filled with black smoke after departing TVB. The engine then sputtered and ceased operating. He attempted to return to TVB but landed in a field short of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed the No. 1 cylinder piston was broken in two pieces, and the piston crank link was bent. The reason for the failures was unknown. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N601ND](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N601ND-2022-10-21), registration cancelled 2022-10-21, S/N 6-6444, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Zenith CH601 (XL) - Registry model: [Paul Darrell Ownby ZODIAC 601XL](https://openairdocs.org/model/paul-darrell-ownby-zodiac-601xl) (registry code 05632UO) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 3300A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300a) (registry code 34804, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 6-6444 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 163 - Engines: Jabiru 3300A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 7, 2019 - Departed: TVB, Cabool, MO - Destination: VIH, Rolla/Vichy, MO - Airport: TVB, Cabool Memorial Airport - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 84; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; last flight review February 23, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 4,024 total, 165 in this make and model, 3,976 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 30 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: UNO, 17 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 20200229003099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200229003099A), Feb 29, 2020: Paul Darrell Ownby ZODIAC 601XL, Cabool, MO, Substantial damage. On February 29, 2020 around 3:00 pm N601ND departed Cabool, MO (ktvb) runway 21. During the departure, after turning right crosswind on course to rolla… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 26, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101016. 83.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 75.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11546403&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Master_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11545026&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20report%20(004)-Rel.pdf - Engine logbook (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 6.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11546811&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20Logbook%20Pages_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo log (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 950 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11548357&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Log-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.