# NTSB CHI06CA237: Spittler Rans S-16, N116GS, Plattsmouth, NE, August 4, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 4, 2006, 09:15 local (14:15 UTC) - Place: Plattsmouth, NE - Coordinates: 40.950279, -95.917778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.9503&lon=-95.9178&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Lincoln, NE FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 64431 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06CA237 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64431/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06CA237 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to fuel starvation which resulted from a binding within the fuel servo. A factor associated with the accident was the high vegetation that was encountered 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(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb - fuel system,fuel control - fluctuating (cause) - fluid - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane collided with rough terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported that they were practicing touch and go landings when the engine power decreased by 100 to 150 rpm during takeoff. The pilot confirmed the boost pump position, the mixture setting, and the fuel quantity. He reported that at an altitude of about 500 feet above the ground the engine power decreased smoothly to zero. The pilot reported there were crop fields on both sides of his path with a slew in the middle so he elected to land straight ahead in the slew. The airplane touched down in the four-foot-tall grass at which time the nose and right main landing gears collapsed resulting in structural damage to the airplane. The fuel servo was removed from the airplane and bench tested. The test revealed the servo had a tendency to stick when transitioning between high and low pressure settings. ## Factual narrative The airplane collided with rough terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported they were practicing touch and go landings when the engine power decreased by 100 to 150 rpm during takeoff. The pilot confirmed the boost pump position, the mixture setting, and the fuel quantity. He reported that at an altitude of about 500 feet above the ground the engine power decreased smoothly to zero. The pilot reported there were crop fields on both sides of his path with a slew in the middle so he elected to land straight ahead in the slew. The airplane touched down in the four foot tall grass at which time the nose and right main landing gears collapsed resulting in structural damage to the airplane. The fuel servo was removed from the airplane and bench tested. The test revealed the servo had a tendency to stick when transitioning between high and low pressure settings. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N116GS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N116GS), registered now, S/N 1298009, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Spittler Rans S-16 - Registry model: [Spittler Gerald S-16 SHEKARI](https://openairdocs.org/model/spittler-gerald-s-16-shekari) (registry code 05611SE) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1298009 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Richard H. Harriman - Registered owner: Gerard Spittler - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: PMV, Plattsmouth, NE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 4,400 total, 420 in this make and model, 4,400 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 5 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 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 20060804016969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060804016969A), Aug 4, 2006: Amtr RANSS16, Plattsmouth, NE, Substantial damage. (-23) On August 4, 2006 at 9:15 CDT, the pilot of N116GS, an experimental amateur-buile rans S-16 aircraft, serial number 1298009, made a forced landing in a… ## Other investigations on N116GS (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 WPR14LA323](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA323), Aug 1, 2014: Rans S-16 (N116GS), Fort Bridger, WY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The fuel flow divider inlet line’s B-nut coming loose during takeoff, resulting in a total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to adequately tighten the B-nut… 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.