CHI08CA034

NTSB accident investigation · Gluff, Alan Zenair 200 · Greenwood, IN · November 4, 2007

Accident · Minor injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
November 4, 2007, 08:30 local (13:30 UTC)
Place
Greenwood, IN
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N601AGGluff, Alan Zenair 200
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report December 20, 2007
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA Indianapolis FSDO
FAA report
20071104827909A
Case key
67168

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The total loss of engine power due to a lubricating system leak for undetermined reasons which resulted in engine seizure, and the unsuitable terrain encountered during the forced landing. Contributing factors were the plowed field and the nose gear failure which resulted in the nose over.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malfClimb
Lubricating system - leakCause
Engine assembly - seizedCause
Forced landingEmergency descent/landing
Nose gear collapsedEmergency landing
Unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encounteredPilot in commandCause
Terrain condition - plowed/furrowedFactor
Landing gear,nose gear - failureFactor
Nose overEmergency descent/landing

Analysis

The airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported that during climb out smoke began coming into the cockpit, the engine lost power, the oil pressure dropped to zero, and then the engine seized. The pilot attempted a landing in a plowed field, during which the nose wheel collapsed and the airplane "flipped over on its back." Oil was found on the bottom of the airplane's fuselage during subsequent examination. The examination failed to reveal the source of the oil leak. The airplane had accumulated 0.6 hours of flight time since having undergone an annual condition inspection performed by the pilot/builder.

Factual narrative

The airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported that during climb out smoke began coming into the cockpit, the engine lost power, the oil pressure dropped to zero, and then the engine seized. The pilot attempted a landing in a plowed field, during which the nose wheel collapsed and the airplane "flipped over on its back." Oil was found on the bottom of the airplane's fuselage during subsequent examination. The examination failed to reveal the source of the oil leak. The airplane had accumulated 0.6 hours of flight time since having undergone an annual condition inspection performed by the pilot/builder.

Aircraft

Registration
N601AG
Reported as
Gluff, Alan Zenair 200
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
63365
Airframe hours
654.9
Engine
Subaru EA 81, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Pilot
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Departed
Greenwood, IN
Destination
BAK · Columbus, IN

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
52
Injuries
Minor
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, With waivers/limitations
Seat
Left
Flight hours
1,250 total · 654 in this make and model · 1,225 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
270° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
45 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.