# NTSB CHI03LA152: Zimmerman Glastar, N109BZ, Pierce, NE, June 7, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 7, 2003, 07:45 local (12:45 UTC) - Place: Pierce, NE - Coordinates: 42.130554, -97.535835 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1306&lon=-97.5358&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA- Lincoln FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57157 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA152 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57157/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA152 ## Probable cause The pilot's operation of the airplane with known deficiencies in equipment and his selection of unsuitable terrain for landing. Factors contributing to this accident were the overtemperature of the engine cooling system, the long grass, and the collapse of the nose landing gear strut. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - performed, pilot in command (cause) - cooling system - overtemperature (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - grass (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, landing - roll - landing gear,nose gear strut - collapsed (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane nosed over during a precautionary landing to a meadow near a grass airstrip. The pilot reported he entered the downwind leg and the engine temperature rose to 260 degrees Fahrenheit. The pilot stated he "had a choice [to] continue around the pattern with an overheating engine, or land immediately." The pilot decided to land the airplane in a grass meadow rather than on the mowed grass airstrip. During landing rollout, the nose gear subsequently became stuck in the grass and nosed over. The airplane had 8.6 hours of total flight hours since receiving a FAA airworthiness certificate. The pilot noted he had experienced problems with the engine cooling system prior to the accident flight. Engine and control surface continuity was confirmed. The reason for the high engine temperature was not determined. The pilot stated, "In hindsight, I wish I wouldn't have flown with a questionable engine." ## Factual narrative On June 7, 2003, at 0745 central daylight time, an amateur-built Glastar, N109BZ, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during a precautionary landing near Pierce, Nebraska. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot was uninjured. The local flight departed at 0720. The purpose of the flight was to test the airplane's engine in the traffic pattern. The pilot reported he entered the downwind leg and the engine temperature rose to 260 degrees Fahrenheit (F). The pilot stated he "had a choice [to] continue around the pattern with an overheating engine, or land immediately directly into a 15 [mile per hour] headwind, in a flat meadow [with] 12 inch tall grass." The pilot reported he chose to land in the meadow rather than continue on downwind and land on the mowed grass airstrip. The pilot reported the nose gear became stuck in the tall grass during landing rollout and the aircraft nosed over. The pilot reported the airplane had flown a total of 8.6 hours since receiving an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness certificate. He reported he had experienced trouble with the engine cooling system on previous flights. The pilot stated the engine's maximum temperature is 230 degrees F. The pilot indicated he had experienced engine temperatures between 250 and 260 degrees F while at low airspeeds, idling, or during taxi tests. The pilot stated, "In hindsight, I wish I wouldn't have flown with a questionable engine, but I figured I had to get [the airplane] in the air and get more air going through the radiators to test [the engine's] cooling abilities." A FAA airworthiness inspector conducted an on-scene inspection of the airplane. The inspection revealed engine and control surface continuity. The inspection of the engine cooling system did not reveal the reason for the high engine temperatures. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N109BZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N109BZ), registered now, S/N 5782, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Zimmerman Glastar - Registry model: [Zimmerman Bruce J GLASTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/zimmerman-bruce-j-glastar) (registry code 05614T7) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Subaru ALL MDLS A/B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/subaru-all-mdls-a-b) (registry code 59050, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 5782 - Airframe hours: 8.6 - Engines: Subaru EJ251AXWAB-61 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: PVT, Pierce, NE - Airport: PVT, Private Strip, runway 02, 2,000 × 40 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, unknown; last flight review April 22, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 267 total, 9 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: OFK, 14 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 20030607030229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030607030229A), Jun 7, 2003: Amtr GLASTAR, Norfolk, NE, Substantial damage. (-23) While performing a flight evaluation the engine overheated. While attempting an emergency landing at the pic's private airstrip, the plane nosed over. 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.