CEN21LA367

NTSB accident investigation · Pulsar Sport 150 · Osceola, WI · August 9, 2021

Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal report
Date
August 9, 2021, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC)
Place
Osceola, WI
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Unknown
Aircraft
N997EMPulsar Sport 150
Defining event
Unknown: Unknown or undetermined
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed
Report
Approved by Office Director
Investigation class
Class 3
NTSB office
Central Region
Parties
FAA FSDO
FAA report
20210809013579A
Case key
103666

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The total loss of engine power for undermined reasons based on available information

Findings · 1

NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.

Engine (reciprocating)Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determinedLorah Elden A PULSAR SPORT 150: 1 caseAll aircraft: 497 cases

Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.

Analysis

The pilot completed one touch and go landing. During the climb the airplane’s engine lost total power. The pilot selected a field for a forced landing. During the forced landing the airplane impacted terrain and came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage when both wings separated from the fuselage during the forced landing. The airplane was recovered, and the engine was examined. Impact damage to the carburetor prevented an engine test run. A visual inspection of the engine noted that a wire separated from the left magneto; however, it could not be determined if this was a result of the forced landing or if it had separated before the landing. The magneto was removed and tested by rotating the magneto with a drill; spark was observed on each terminal. The engine and fuel system examination did not reveal a reason for the loss of engine power.

Factual narrative

On August 9, 2021, about 1800 central daylight time, a Pulsar Sport 150 airplane, N997EM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Osceola, Wisconsin. The pilot received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he flew for 0.8 hours before taking a break. He then added 11.6 gallons of fuel to the airplane and planned to stay in the traffic pattern. He departed the L O Simenstad Municipal Airport (OEO), Osceola, Wisconsin, and did one touch-and-go. During the climb the airplane’s engine lost total power. The pilot selected a field, located slightly ahead and to the right, for the forced landing. During the forced landing the airplane impacted terrain and came to rest upright. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, and both wings separated from the airframe during the landing. See figure 1. Figure 1: Accident airplane FAA photo The airplane wreckage was recovered and transported to a salvage facility where an examination was conducted. The fuselage with the engine, minus the wings, was placed on a stand for the examination. The engine cowling had been previously removed and a visual inspection of the engine did not reveal any pre-impact abnormities. However, a wire to the E-mag (left side) was disconnected; it could not be determined if this was a result of the accident or the forced landing. The magneto was removed and tested by rotating the magneto with a drill; spark was observed on each terminal. Spark was also observed on each terminal of the right magneto. The carburetor had impact damage, which prevented an engine test run. The examination of the engine and fuel system did not reveal a reason for the loss of engine power.

Aircraft

Registration
N997EM
Reported as
Pulsar Sport 150
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
603
Built
2014
Airframe hours
238.2
Engine
Continental O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Condition · October 22, 2020
Airport
KOEO · L O Simenstad Municipal, runway 10, 5,006 × 75 ft, asphalt
Equipment
ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
68
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Unknown, Unknown
Last flight review
November 5, 2019
Seat
Left
Flight hours
470.3 total · 157 in this make and model · 398.4 as pilot in command · 16.4 in the last 90 days · 11.3 in the last 30 days · 1.1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Calm
Visibility
10 statute miles
Temperature
84 °F, dew point 68 °F
Altimeter
29.84 inHg
METAR
KOEO 092255Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 29/20 A2984 RMK AO2 T02900196

Docket · 5

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 13, 2022, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 9.9 MB in all.

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.