# NTSB CHI06LA069: Zilz Zenith CH801, N143ZT, Moscow Mills, MO, January 18, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 18, 2006, 12:25 local (18:25 UTC) - Place: Moscow Mills, MO - Coordinates: 38.901943, -90.960281 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9019&lon=-90.9603&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 3, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: St. Louis, MO FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 63129 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI06LA069 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63129/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI06LA069 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to inadequate design of the engine compartment which resulted in inadequate engine cooling and fuel starvation due to vapor lock. Factors associated with the accident were the utility pole and trees which were contacted during the landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - cooling system - inadequate (cause) - fuel system - vapor lock (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - acft/equip,inadequate design, owner/builder (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - utility pole (contributing factor) - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The experimental amateur-built airplane contacted trees and a power pole during an off-airport forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot said the airplane was on its third flight since he finished building it. The purpose of the flight was to test and record engine performance at various power settings. He stated that during the flight the fuel pressure dropped below 2 pounds per square inch (psi) and the engine stopped running. He stated he was able to restart the engine, but it failed to produce power. The pilot turned toward the airport, but he did not have enough altitude to make it back, so he elected to land in a pasture with a row of trees bordering the edge of the field. The pilot stated he did not see the power lines above the trees until he was at an altitude, which was insufficient to clear the lines. He elected to fly through the tree line in order to avoid contacting the power lines. The airplane contacted a power line pole and trees prior to coming to rest in the field. Inspection of the engine and airplane failed to reveal any failure/malfunction which would have resulted in the loss of engine power. The pilot reported that he believes the loss of engine power was a result of vapor lock. He reported the gascolator is located near one of the exhaust pipes and that the loss of power occurred during a flight condition, which would have created reduced cooling through the engine cowling and increased exhaust temperatures. ## Factual narrative On January 18, 2006, at 1225 central standard time, an experimental amateur-built Zilz Zenith CH801, N143ZT, collided with a power line pole and trees during an off airport forced landing in Moscow Mills, Missouri. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from the Moscow Mills - Greenfield Airport (M71), Moscow Mills, Missouri, at approximately 1100. The pilot said the airplane was on its third flight since he completed building it. The purpose of the flight was to test and record engine performance at various power settings. He stated he had been flying for approximately one and a half hours when the fuel pressure dropped below 2 pounds per square inch (psi) and the engine stopped running. He stated he was able to restart the engine, but it failed to produce power. The pilot turned toward the airport, but he did not have enough altitude to make it back, so he elected to land in a pasture with a row of trees bordering the edge of the field. The pilot stated he did not see the power lines above the trees until he was at an altitude which was insufficient to clear the lines. He elected to fly through the tree line in order to avoid contacting the power lines. The airplane contacted a power line pole and trees prior to coming to rest in the field. A post accident examination of the airplane and engine was conducted by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards District Office in St. Louis, Missouri. The inspector reported that he was unable to find any failure/malfunction, which would have resulted in the loss of engine power. The pilot reported that he believes the loss of engine power was a result of vapor lock. He reported the gascolator was located near one of the exhaust pipes and that the loss of power occurred during a flight condition, which would have created reduced cooling through the engine cowling and increased exhaust temperatures. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N143ZT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N143ZT), registered now, S/N 8-4397, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Zilz Zenith CH801 - Registry model: [Zilz David E ZENITH STOL CH801](https://openairdocs.org/model/zilz-david-e-zenith-stol-ch801) (registry code 05619X5) (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: 8-4397 - Airframe hours: 6 - Engines: America's Aircraft Engines O-360-A1A2 190 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David E. Zilz - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 1, 2005, 6 hours before - Departed: M71, Moscow Mills, MO - Destination: Moscow Mills, MO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 325 total, 5 in this make and model, 283 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 7 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 18 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: SUS, 25 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 20060118000529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060118000529A), Jan 18, 2006: Amtr ZENITHCH801, Moscow Mills, MO, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft lost fuel pressure and power at 4,000 feet approx. 2 miles east of Moscow Mills airport (M71). Pilot could not make airport and could not… 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.