# NTSB CEN22LA426: Mossman Michael D Zenair CH 601 HD, N905KM, Lebanon, IN, September 20, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 20, 2022, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Lebanon, IN - Coordinates: 40.007326, -86.440646 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0073&lon=-86.4406&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 105975 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA426 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105975/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105975 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA426 ## Probable cause The loss of lateral/bank control during takeoff due to the pilot’s decision to operate the airplane with a known fuel imbalance. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Mossman Michael D ZENAIR CH 601 HD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=05617QA), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mossman Michael D ZENAIR CH 601 HD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05617QA), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Mossman Michael D ZENAIR CH 601 HD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05617QA), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Mossman Michael D ZENAIR CH 601 HD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05617QA), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was performing a maintenance test flight following a recent condition inspection. Due to a persistent fuel leak in the right wing fuel tank, the pilot had about 11 gallons of fuel in the left wing fuel tank and the right fuel tank was empty. Before takeoff, the pilot checked all flight controls with no anomalies noted. The pilot reported that shortly after being out of ground effect during the takeoff, the airplane began to roll to the left. The pilot attempted to correct with right aileron control but was unsuccessful. The pilot pulled the throttle to idle, and the left roll continued until the left wingtip struck the terrain. The airplane cartwheeled into a cornfield adjacent to the runway, came to rest upright, and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. It is likely the known fuel imbalance resulted in a left roll tendency that could not be corrected with the flight controls during the takeoff. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N905KM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N905KM), registered now, S/N 6-3795, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MOSSMAN MICHAEL D ZENAIR CH 601 HD - Registry model: [Mossman Michael D ZENAIR CH 601 HD](https://openairdocs.org/model/mossman-michael-d-zenair-ch-601-hd) (registry code 05617QA) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 6-3795 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 581 - Engines: Rotax 912S 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 19, 2022 - Airport: 6I4, Boone County, runway 18, 3,600 × 30 ft, concrete - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 10, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,030 total, 581 in this make and model, 949 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KEYE, 13 nm away - METAR: KEYE 201353Z AUTO 13005KT 10SM CLR 22/17 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP168 T02170167 $ ## 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 20220920016039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220920016039A), Sep 20, 2022: Mossman Michael D ZENAIR CH 601 HD, Lebanon, IN, Substantial damage. This flight was a test flight after a condition inspection. The aircraft departed rwy 18, VMC, very light winds. The airplane rolled hard left unexpectedly to… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 24, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105975. 6.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 5.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14589286&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N905KM%20220926%20NTSB%20report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation FAA inspector (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14590654&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20for%20Interview%20ROC%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Accident photograph (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 861 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14589927&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.