# NTSB CHI04LA245: Fall Cub, N25MF, Rockville, IN, August 21, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 21, 2004, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Rockville, IN - Coordinates: 39.791667, -87.189163 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7917&lon=-87.1892&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 60019 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04LA245 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60019/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA245 ## Probable cause The fuel starvation encountered due to the builder's inadequate fuel system design and the subsequent loss of engine power during a maneuver for the landing approach. Factors were the tree and corn. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - fuel system - inadequate, owner/builder (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The experimental amateur-built airplane sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain during a forced landing at a private airstrip following an in-flight loss of engine power. The pilot and passenger were hospitalized with serious injuries. The pilot's accident report stated, "I flew a 3-4 hundred foot pass down runway (W to E) at a fairly low power setting to assess the strip and its condition. As I started a [right hand] turn to go west so that I could go back to land east, the engine quit (it windmilled). ... I turned sharply west to at least land in cornfield [and] possibly runway. ... [The airplane] was settling, however and [left] gear drug thru top of 75' tree slowing me considerably. [The airplane] hit corn slightly nose down in flat attitude." Concerning the loss of engine power, the pilot stated, "Engine quit - fuel starvation, I feel caused by unporting fuel pickups." The pilot's safety recommendation was, "Fuel system need to be reevaluated, possibly rerouting fuel lines from tanks, adding a fuel pump (gravity fed) and/or more fuel pickup points. [Approximately] 12 gal. of fuel showed on fuel sight [glasses] at time engine quit." ## Factual narrative On August 21, 2004, about 1330 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built Fall Cub, N25MF, sustained substantial damage on impact with terrain during a forced landing at a private airstrip following an in-flight loss of engine power near Rockville, Indiana. 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 and passenger were hospitalized with serious injuries. The flight originated from Post-Air Airport (7L8), near Indianapolis, Indiana, about 1300, and was maneuvering for an approach to the private airstrip at the time of the loss of engine power. The pilot's accident report stated: Left 7L8 (Indianapolis home base) at about 13:00 EST ... . Had not landed at this strip with this [airplane] yet (required Phase I hours had just been flown off) so I flew a 3-4 hundred foot pass down runway (W to E) at a fairly low power setting to assess the strip and its condition. As I started a [right hand] turn to go west so that I could go back to land east, the engine quit (it windmilled). There was no possible place to land going [East], so I again checked tanks to 'both on' [and] fuel gauges 6-7 gal/side in [main fuel tanks]. I turned sharply west to at least land in cornfield [and] possibly runway. Pumped throttle again, engine surged briefly and I thought I could make field. [The airplane] was settling, however and [left] gear drug thru top of 75' tree slowing me considerably. [The airplane] hit corn slightly nose down in flat attitude. No fire. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector examined the wreckage. During the examination he observed that no fuel was present in the carburetor. No pre-impact anomalies were found. Concerning the loss of engine power, the pilot stated, "Engine quit - fuel starvation, I feel caused by unporting fuel pickups." The pilot's safety recommendation was, "Fuel system need to be reevaluated, possibly rerouting fuel lines from tanks, adding a fuel pump (gravity fed) and/or more fuel pickup points. [Approximately] 12 gal. of fuel showed on fuel sight [glasses] at time engine quit." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N25MF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N25MF), registered now, S/N 5 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Fall Cub - Registry model: [Fall Martin CUB](https://openairdocs.org/model/fall-martin-cub) (registry code 05617GR) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 5 - Engines: Lycoming O-360 190 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Martin Kenric Fall - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 17, 2004 - Departed: 7L8, INDIANAPOLIS, IN - Destination: Rockville, IN - Airport: PVT, runway 27, 1,800 × 75 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review April 1, 2004; seat: front; flight hours: 5,000 total, 45 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: HUF, 30 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 20040821027989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040821027989A), Aug 21, 2004: Amtr CUB, Rockville, IN, Substantial damage. (-23) According to the pilot he had not landed at his Private strip in 2 to 3 months. He flew over landing strip, heading east, to familiarize himself with the… ## Other investigations on N25MF (1) 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 WPR22LA328](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA328), Aug 19, 2022: Fall Martin Super CUB (N25MF), Stanley, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff with a crosswind. 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.