# NTSB CEN20LA342: Siebel Auriga, N505JS, Rockford, IL, August 14, 2020

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 14, 2020, 11:43 local (16:43 UTC)
- Place: Rockford, IL
- Coordinates: 42.288055, -89.136108 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.2881&lon=-89.1361&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured; on the ground: 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 101806
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20LA342
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101806/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101806
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20LA342

## Probable cause

The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on 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: [Siebel James A AURIGA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05601IK), [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-climb to cruise: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Siebel James A AURIGA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=05601IK), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)
- [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Siebel James A AURIGA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05601IK), [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: [Siebel James A AURIGA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05601IK), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Siebel James A AURIGA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05601IK), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Siebel James A AURIGA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05601IK), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was conducting a local flight to evaluate recent modifications made to increase engine cooling when the engine “sputtered and quit” during cruise climb. The pilot was unable to restore engine power and made a forced landing at the departure airport. The airplane touched down about midfield on the wet turf runway and overran the end of the runway despite the pilot using maximum braking. The airplane traveled through the airport perimeter fence and onto a street where it was struck by an automobile. The airplane’s left wing and its rear spar attach point were substantially damaged during the accident. Postaccident examination and engine test runs did not identify any anomalies or failures that would have resulted in a loss of engine power. The airplane had ample fuel available for the flight. Although the auxiliary fuel pump output pressure was below the engine manufacturer’s minimum specification, no anomalies were identified with the engine-driven fuel pump during postaccident engine test runs. The reason for the total loss of engine power could not be determined with the available evidence.

## Factual narrative

On August 14, 2020, about 1143 central daylight time, an experimental Siebel Auriga airplane, N505JS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Rockford, Illinois. The pilot was not injured. The driver of an automobile sustained minor injuries and the passenger in the automobile was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he departed runway 18 at Cottonwood Airport (1C8), Rockford, Illinois, and continued north of the airport where he intended to monitor engine oil temperatures after making changes to the engine cowling to increase engine cooling. The pilot reported that the engine “sputtered and quit” about 3-5 miles north of 1C8 while climbing through 3,000 ft mean sea level. He changed fuel tanks and turned on the auxiliary fuel pump. The pilot noted that the engine restarted a couple of times, but it would lose power when he increased the engine throttle. The pilot completed a 180° course reversal for a straight-in forced landing on runway 18 at 1C8. The pilot reported that the airplane was high on final approach and that he performed a forward slip maneuver to lose additional altitude. The airplane touched down about midfield on the wet turf runway and overran the end of the runway despite the pilot using maximum braking. The airplane traveled through the airport perimeter fence and onto a street where it was struck by an automobile. The airplane’s left wing and its rear spar attach point were substantially damaged during the accident. A postaccident examination conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector did not identify any anomalies or failures with the airplane's fuel tanks, fuel tank vents, fuel tank selector valve, fuel strainer assembly, P-leads, and ignition switch. The pilot reported that he departed on the flight with 45 gallons of fuel and observed fuel leaking from the airplane following the accident. The pilot estimated that 25 gallons of fuel were drained from the airplane before it was recovered from the accident site. The engine was removed from the airplane and mounted in a test cell where it was run multiple times. The postaccident engine test runs did not identify any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The engine-driven fuel pump functioned normally during the engine test runs. The auxiliary fuel pump functioned, but the output pressure was below the engine manufacturer's minimum specification.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N505JS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N505JS-2020-12-09), registration cancelled 2020-12-09, S/N 005, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Siebel Auriga
- Registry model: [Siebel James A AURIGA](https://openairdocs.org/model/siebel-james-a-auriga) (registry code 05601IK) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 005
- Year built: 2002
- Airframe hours: 53.6
- Engines: Lycoming IO-360-C1E6 200 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, August 2, 2020, 5 hours before
- Departed: 1C8, Rockford, IL
- Destination: 1C8, Rockford, IL
- Airport: 1C8, Cottonwood Airport, runway 18, 2,540 × 260 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Stall warning system, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 79; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; last flight review June 28, 2014; seat: left; flight hours: 2,200 total, 50 in this make and model, 2,100 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 0.5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 10 knots, gusting 14
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: RFD, 6 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 20200814013179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200814013179A), Aug 14, 2020: Siebel James A AURIGA, Rockford, IL, Substantial damage. On August 14, 2020, at 1645 zulu, an experimental homebuilt Siebel Auriga airplane, N505JS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near…

## Docket (8 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 22, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101806. 5.0 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 568 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15116262&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=01%20-%20Pilot%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum of conversation (spencer cull) (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 94 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15115962&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=02%20-%20Memorandum%20of%20Conversation%20(Spencer%20Cull)-Rel.pdf
- Engine test run data (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 262 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15115494&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=03%20-%20Engine%20Test%20Run%20Data_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Maintenance logbooks (excerpts) (item 4, PDF, 15 pages, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15116229&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=04%20-%20Maintenance%20Logbooks%20(Excerpts)_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Plots of altitude and speed based on radar data (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15116152&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=05%20-%20Plots%20of%20Altitude%20and%20Speed%20Based%20on%20Radar%20Data-Rel.pdf
- Processed radar data (item 6, CSV, 10 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15116077&FileExtension=csv&FileName=06%20-%20Processed%20Radar%20Data-Rel.csv
- Weather summary (item 7, PDF, 2 pages, 164 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15115504&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=07%20-%20Weather%20Summary-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 8, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15115866&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=08%20-%20Photos-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.

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