# NTSB CHI01LA112: Meyers 200A, N495C, Tecumseh, MI, April 2, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 2, 2001, 08:40 local (12:40 UTC) - Place: Tecumseh, MI - Coordinates: 42.00048, -83.939361 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0005&lon=-83.9394&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 23, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 52018 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI01LA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52018/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI01LA112 ## Probable cause The fuel starvation. Factors were the loose line at the distribution valve, the inadequate annual inspection the owner/pilot mechanic performed, the unsuitable terrain the pilot encountered during the emergency landing after takeoff, and the trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - maintenance,annual inspection - inadequate, owner/pilot mechanic (contributing factor) - fuel system,line fitting - loose (contributing factor) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with object, emergency landing after takeoff - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with trees and terrain during a forced landing following an in-flight loss of engine power on initial climb. A post impact fire occurred. The pilot reported no injuries. The pilot stated, "I had just completed an annual inspection on it. ... On Monday morning I drained the sumps did a full power run up and proceeded to take off on runway 36 for a local check flight. Everything seemed normal until just after I rotated and cycled the landing gear. A few seconds later I lost power. I switched on the boost pump not normally used for take off, to no avail. The stall warning horn activated and I came down in the trees off the north end of the airport. I had a fire originating from the fuel line to the distrabution valve on top of the engine. I exited the aircraft unhurt but neglected to turn off the master switch or the boost pump which was feeding the fire. ... It seems like I lost fuel pressure from the line at the distrabution valve which did not come off but was leaking. This caused the engine to quit." ## Factual narrative On April 2, 2001, about 0840 eastern daylight time, a Meyers 200A, N495C, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage on impact with trees and terrain during a forced landing following an in-flight loss of engine power on initial climb out from Meyers-Diver's Airport, near Tecumseh, Michigan. A post impact fire occurred. The personal flight was operating under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was on file. The pilot reported no injuries. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated, "I had just completed an annual inspection on it. On Friday I had taxied the airplane around [and] done a full power run up[.] I then removed the cowling to check things over. Everything seemed OK. On Monday morning I drained the sumps did a full power run up and proceeded to take off on runway 36 for a local check flight. Everything seemed normal until just after I rotated and cycled the landing gear. A few seconds later I lost power. I switched on the boost pump not normally used for take off, to no avail. The stall warning horn activated and I came down in the trees off the north end of the airport. I had a fire originating from the fuel line to the distrabution valve on top of the engine. I exited the aircraft unhurt but neglected to turn off the master switch or the boost pump which was feeding the fire. After evaluating the situation for safety I reentered the aircraft and turned off the master switch. We were then able to put out the fire which was isolated to the top of the engine compartment. It seems like I lost fuel pressure from the line at the distrabution valve which did not come off but was leaking. This caused the engine to quit." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N495C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N495C), registered now, S/N 259 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Meyers 200A - Registry model: [Meyers Industries 200A](https://openairdocs.org/model/meyers-industries-200a) (registry code 5650304) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental I0-470 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-i0-470-series) (registry code 17027, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 259 - Airframe hours: 2803 - Engines: Continental IO-520-A 285 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Keith Thomas Diver - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, March 7, 2001, 1 hours before - Departed: 0MI7, Tecumseh, MI - Airport: 0MI7, Al Meyers, runway 36, 2,660 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 14, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 711 total, 478 in this make and model, 565 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: ADG, 11 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 20010402011839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010402011839A), Apr 2, 2001: Propjt 200A, Tecumseh, MI, No damage. (-23) Aircraft had taken off from Tecumseh airport (3TE) on runway 36, after clearing runway and retracting gear. The engine lost power. Aircraft stalled and… ## Other investigations on N495C (2) 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. - [NTSB FTW80DRA14](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW80DRA14), Dec 20, 1979: Meyers 200 (N495C), La Porte, TX, substantial damage - [NTSB CHI65F0114](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI65F0114), Mar 30, 1965: Meyers 200A (N495C), Kokomo, IN, substantial damage 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.