# NTSB CHI04CA138: Merkel Acro Sport II, N796DM, Beloit, WI, June 5, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 5, 2004, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC) - Place: Beloit, WI - Coordinates: 42.497776, -88.967781 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4978&lon=-88.9678&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 59380 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04CA138 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59380/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04CA138 ## Probable cause Inaccurate fuel consumption calculations which resulted in fuel exhaustion. Factors associated with the accident were the pilot's continued flight with an inoperable fuel quantity indicator and the wires which the airplane contacted during the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - operation with known deficiencies in equipment - intentional, pilot in command (contributing factor) - engine instruments,fuel quantity gage - inoperative (contributing factor) - fuel consumption calculations - inaccurate, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - wire,static (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane collided with a power line and the terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot stated the fuel quantity gauge in the airplane was inoperative and he uses a dip stick to check the fuel quantity. He stated he had 13 gallons of fuel on board when he departed from his private airstrip. The pilot flew approximately 65 minutes with two takeoffs and landings prior to the accident. The pilot estimated he had 7 gallons of fuel on board when he made his last takeoff. He stated the airplane usually burns 6 gallons per hour for normal flight and 7.5 gallons per hour when he is performing aerobatics. The airplane holds a total of 24 gallons of fuel of which 22 gallons are usable. Post accident inspection of the airplane revealed there were two gallons of fuel on board the airplane. ## Factual narrative On June 5, 2004, at 1515 central daylight time, a Merkel Acro Sport II, N796DM, collided with a power line and the terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power five miles west of Beloit, Wisconsin. The commercial rated pilot was not injured. The airplane received substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from the pilot's private airstrip in Pecatonica, Illinois, with en route landings in Freeport, Illinois, and at the Monroe Municipal Airport (EFT), Monroe, Wisconsin. The destination was Early Merkel Field, the pilots private airstrip, in Pecatonica, Illinois. The pilot stated the fuel quantity gauge in the airplane was inoperative and he uses a dip stick to check the fuel quantity. He stated he had 13 gallons of fuel on board when he departed from his private airstrip. He made full stop landings then taxied back for takeoff at both Freeport and EFT. He stated he did not shut the engine down at either stop. The pilot estimated that he departed EFT with 7 gallons of fuel on board. The pilot stated the airplane usually burns 6 gallons per hour for normal flight and 7.5 gallons per hour when he is performing acrobatics. The airplane holds a total of 24 gallons of fuel of which 22 gallons are usable. Post accident inspection of the airplane by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration Milwaukee Flight Standards District Office, revealed there were two gallons of fuel on board the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N796DM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N796DM-2015-05-11), registration cancelled 2015-05-11, S/N 1044, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Merkel Acro Sport II - Registry model: [Merkel Dick ACRO SPORT II](https://openairdocs.org/model/merkel-dick-acro-sport-ii) (registry code 05603QG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1044 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Richard E. Merkel - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: EFT, Monroe, WI - Destination: Pecantonica, IL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 6,000 total, 153 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20040605016949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040605016949A), Jun 5, 2004: Amtr ACROSPORTII, Beloit, WI, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 5th, 2004 at 1615 CDT, an experimental, amateur built, acro sport ii registered to and operated by richard e. merkel lost power in cruise flight… 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.