# NTSB CHI05LA113: Mattson Zenith 601XL, N824M, Dike, IA, May 10, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 10, 2005, 17:37 local (22:37 UTC) - Place: Dike, IA - Coordinates: 42.416667, -92.250274 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4167&lon=-92.2503&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 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 61475 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI05LA113 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61475/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI05LA113 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the pilot misjudged the forced landing approach. Factors associated with the accident were the fence and the ditch which the airplane contacted. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - planned approach - misjudged, pilot in command (cause) - object - fence (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - ditch (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane collided with a ditch during an off airport forced following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported that 15 minutes into the flight, the engine rpm started decreasing and he thought he smelled smoke in the cockpit. He reported that he turned off the battery switches and the engine rpm began to increase. The pilot reported he set the engine power to 2,500 rpm and began spiraling down over a private airstrip from an altitude of 4,500 feet above mean sea level (msl) when the engine lost all power. He stated he needed additional power to complete the last 360 degree turn so he elected to land in a field. The airplane struck a fence and a ditch during the landing. Inspection of the airplane and engine failed to reveal any mechanical failure/malfunction which would have resulted in a fire, smoke, or the loss of engine power. The engine was equipped with an electronic ignition system. The pilot reported the accident could have been avoided by making a "better landing on power off." ## Factual narrative On May 10, 2005, at 1737 central daylight time, an experiemental, amatuer-built Mattson Zenith 601XL, N824M, collided with a ditch during an off airport forced landing in Dike, Iowa, following a loss of engine power. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The local flight originated from Waterloo, Iowa, at 1700. The pilot reported that 15 minutes into the flight, the engine rpm started decreasing and he thought he smelled smoke in the cockpit. He reported that he turned off the battery switches and the engine rpm began to increase. The pilot reported he set the engine power to 2,500 rpm and began spiraling down over a private airstrip from an altitude of 4,500 feet above mean sea level (msl) when the engine lost all power. He stated he needed additional power to complete the last 360 degree turn so he elected to land in a field. The airplane struck a fence and a ditch during the landing. Inspection of the airplane and engine by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards District Office in Des Moines, Iowa, failed to reveal any mechanical failure/malfunction which would have resulted in a fire, smoke, or the loss of engine power. The engine was equipped with an electronic ignition system. The pilot reported the accident could have been avoided by making a "better landing on power off." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N824M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N824M-2009-09-14), registration cancelled 2009-09-14, S/N 6-4466 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mattson Zenith 601XL - Registry model: [Mattson Douglas L ZENITH 601 XL](https://openairdocs.org/model/mattson-douglas-l-zenith-601-xl) (registry code 05617NY) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 6-4466 - Airframe hours: 24 - Engines: Honda CAM 100 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Douglas L. Mattson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: January 1, 2005 - Departed: ALO, Waterloo, IA - Destination: ALO - Airport: PVT, Private ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 123 total, 22 in this make and model, 87 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.82 inHg - Observed at: ALO, 13 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 20050510007759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050510007759A), May 10, 2005: Amtr ZENITH, Dike, IA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was flying near Dike, Iowa, when the engine began to run rough. The master electrical switch was turned "off" and the engine ran better but then… 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.