# NTSB CHI05LA094: Tschida Glastar, N5DK, Kendallville, IN, April 10, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 10, 2005, 09:45 local (14:45 UTC) - Place: Kendallville, IN - Coordinates: 41.472778, -85.260833 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4728&lon=-85.2608&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 7, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-South Bend FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61351 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI05LA094 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61351/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05LA094 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of the fuel flow restriction at the internal engine fuel filter due the presence of the silicone sealant material. Contributing factors were the unsuitable terrain for a forced landing short of the airport property, as well as the road and ditch. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - fluid,fuel - flow restricted (cause) - fuel system,filter - obstructed (cause) - fuel system - foreign material/substance (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - roadway/highway (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The amateur-built experimental airplane was substantially damaged when it lost engine power after takeoff. The pilot was in the traffic pattern and attempted to execute a forced landing on the departure runway. However, the glide path was not sufficient to reach the runway and the airplane impacted a road and ditch adjacent to the airport. This was the first flight of the airplane. The pilot was the owner and builder of the aircraft. The pilot stated that after takeoff, he experienced a "very quick" 8-knot reduction in airspeed. The loss in airspeed was followed by a reduction in engine exhaust gas temperature (EGT) of about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The pilot noted that the loss of airspeed felt like "someone momentarily deployed a speed brake but the airspeed remained at the lower speed." He recalled that the fuel pressure indicated 10 pounds per square inch (psi) at that time. The pilot stated that when he reached a point abeam the end of the runway and began a 180-degree turn to final approach for landing, a second airspeed reduction occurred. He reported that while maintaining a 65-knot glide speed, the glide path would not allow a landing on the runway. The pilot reported that the field adjacent to the airport was too small to permit a safe landing. Because there was no traffic on the road adjoining the airport, he elected to dive toward it in an effort to maintain enough airspeed to pull up and land in a grass area off the end of the runway. However, the airplane's nose wheel caught the edge of the roadway and the aircraft slid across the road and into a ditch. A post-accident inspection revealed that a piece of silicone rubber sealant obstructed the inlet of the internal engine fuel filter. The pilot/builder reported that to the best of his knowledge the sealant material was not used in the construction of the airplane and he was unsure of the source. In addition, a Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane. He noted that several bends in the fuel lines were flattened and did not have a uniform cross-section at those locations. ## Factual narrative On April 10, 2005, at 0945 eastern standard time, an amateur-built Tschida Glastar, N5DK, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power at Kendallville Municipal Airport (C62), Kendallville, Indiana. The loss of engine power occurred as the pilot turned downwind after departing from runway 10 (4,400 feet by 75 feet, asphalt). The pilot attempted to execute a forced landing on the departure runway, however, the airplane landed short of the pavement. The test flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot was not injured. In his written statement, the pilot reported that the accident flight was the first flight of his amateur-built experimental airplane. He stated that after takeoff while climbing through 1,400 feet mean sea level (msl), he experienced a "very quick" 8-knot reduction in airspeed. The loss in airspeed was followed by a reduction in engine exhaust gas temperature (EGT) of about 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The pilot noted that the loss of airspeed felt like "someone momentarily deployed a speed brake but the airspeed remained at the lower speed." He recalled that the fuel pressure indicated 10 pounds per square inch (psi) at that time. The pilot stated that as he began a 180-degree turn to final approach for landing, a second airspeed reduction occurred. He reported that while maintaining a 65-knot glide speed, the glide path would not allow a landing on the runway. The pilot reported that the field adjacent to the airport was too small to permit a safe landing. Because there was no traffic on the road adjoining the airport he elected to dive toward it in an effort to maintain enough airspeed to pull up and land in a grass area off the end of the runway. However, the airplane's nose wheel caught the edge of the roadway and the aircraft slid across the road and into a ditch. A post-accident inspection revealed that a piece of silicone rubber sealant was obstructing the inlet of the internal engine fuel filter. The pilot/builder reported that to the best of his knowledge the sealant material was not used in the construction of the airplane and he was unsure of its source. He noted that he examined the propeller and did not observe any anomalies associated with a pre-impact failure. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the airplane. He noted that the fuel lines were flattened at several formed bends. The inspector estimated that the cross-section of these lines was reduced by approximately 50-percent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5DK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5DK), registered now, S/N 5706, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Tschida Glastar - Registry model: [Tschida Donald STOD HMLTN GLASTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/tschida-donald-stod-hmltn-glastar) (registry code 056114W) (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: 5706 - Airframe hours: 0.2 - Engines: Apex T62-T2A1 150 horsepower turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 2, 2005, 0.2 hours before - Departed: C62, Kendallville, IN - Destination: C62 - Airport: C62, Kendallville Muni, runway 10, 4,400 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review November 9, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 449 total, 3 in this make and model, 304 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg ## 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 20050410006899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050410006899A), Apr 10, 2005: Amtr GLASTAR, Kendallville, IN, Substantial damage. (-23) On 4-10-05, at approximately 0940, [privacy data omitted] pilot in command of N5DK, departed runway 10 at kendalville airport (C62) on his first test… 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.