# NTSB CEN21LA251: Kevin Lippert Zenith CH 750, N902KL, Montrose, CO, June 5, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 5, 2021, 16:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Montrose, CO · 8 miles NNW of MTJ - Coordinates: 38.4783, -107.8762 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4783&lon=-107.8762&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103215 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA251 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103215/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103215 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA251 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to fuel vapor lock. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: hidden/submerged object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022052): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Kevin Lippert ZENITH CH 750, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022052/cases.md?model=05634R9), [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022052/cases.md) - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high temperature](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Kevin Lippert ZENITH CH 750, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031015/cases.md?model=05634R9), [All aircraft, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031015/cases.md) - [Engine fuel and control: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057310): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Kevin Lippert ZENITH CH 750, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057310/cases.md?model=05634R9), [All aircraft, 55 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057310/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Fuel related](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190); cases with it: [Kevin Lippert ZENITH CH 750, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md?model=05634R9), [All aircraft, 361 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/190/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Kevin Lippert ZENITH CH 750, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05634R9), [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: [Kevin Lippert ZENITH CH 750, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05634R9), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Kevin Lippert ZENITH CH 750, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05634R9), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was enroute to his home airport when the airplane’s engine lost all power. He set up for a forced landing to a plowed field and attempted to restart the engine. The engine restarted momentarily, but then lost power again. During the forced landing, the airplane’s main landing gear impacted an irrigation ditch and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, fuselage, vertical stabilizer and rudder. A mechanic who examined the airplane and engine after the accident confirmed continuity of the engine’s rotating components, fuel distribution throughout the engine, integrity of the ignition system, and found no evidence of any preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane’s engine that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that before the flight, the airplane was parked on the airport ramp and the outside air temperature was near 100oF. About noon, when he went to start the airplane, the engine would not start. The pilot hangered the airplane so the engine could cool down and about an hour and a half later, the pilot started the airplane and took off. The pilot reported that he was about halfway home when the power loss occurred. The pilot also reported that the airplane had a history of vapor lock occurrences in hot weather conditions and that he thought the engine’s power loss was due to vapor lock. The loss of engine power was consistent with a fuel vapor lock occurrence. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N902KL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N902KL-2021-12-14), registration cancelled 2021-12-14, S/N 75-10161, built 2016 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: KEVIN LIPPERT ZENITH CH 750 (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Kevin Lippert ZENITH CH 750](https://openairdocs.org/model/kevin-lippert-zenith-ch-750) (registry code 05634R9) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Ulpower UL350IS](https://openairdocs.org/engine/ulpower-ul350is) (registry code 62000, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 75-10161 - Year built: 2016 - Airframe hours: 280 - Engines: UL Power UL-350-IS 130 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Loosli Ernst - Registered owner: Loosli Ernst - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 1, 2021 - Departed: AJZ, Delta, CO - Destination: None, Montrose, CO - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,000 total, 200 in this make and model, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KMTJ, 2 nm away - METAR: KMTJ 051853Z AUTO 35009KT 10SM CLR 31/02 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP051 T03060017 ## 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 20210605017249A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210605017249A), Jun 5, 2021: Kevin Lippert ZENITH CH 750, Montrose, CO, Substantial damage. On 6/5/2021 the pilot departed blake field (kajz), an airport near delta, Colorado. He departed at approximately 1430 local time with the intent to return to… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 16, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103215. 814 KB in all. - Memorandum for the record pilot information summary CEN21LA251 (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12813581&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Pilot%20Information%20Summary%20CEN21LA251_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record airplane examination and accident site information CEN21LA251 (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 148 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12813375&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Airplane%20Examination%20and%20Accident%20Site%20Information%20CEN21LA251_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record vapor lock definitions CEN21LA251 (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 158 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12813014&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20the%20Record%20Vapor%20Lock%20Definitions%20CEN21LA251_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array CEN21LA251 (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 356 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12813591&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CEN21LA251-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.