# NTSB CHI08LA189: Roof Curtis Hawk P6E, N386PE, Iowa City, IA, July 3, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 3, 2008, 17:55 local (22:55 UTC) - Place: Iowa City, IA - Coordinates: 41.650428, -91.570816 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6504&lon=-91.5708&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-Des Moines FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68657 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08LA189 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68657/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08LA189 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason and the pilot's subsequent failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Roof Keith A CURTIS HAWK P6E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md?model=05621ZP), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Roof Keith A CURTIS HAWK P6E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05621ZP), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Roof Keith A CURTIS HAWK P6E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05621ZP), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Roof Keith A CURTIS HAWK P6E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05621ZP), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Roof Keith A CURTIS HAWK P6E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05621ZP), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Roof Keith A CURTIS HAWK P6E, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05621ZP), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the takeoff in his homebuilt replica of a Curtis Hawk P6E, the engine suddenly lost power. He stated that the airplane was equipped with a backup ignition and a backup electric fuel pump. He stated that he was in the process of switching from the primary systems to the backup when he inadvertently stalled the airplane. He stated that there were no deficiencies in the flight control system of the airplane. A fire ensued and the pilot stated that it was his belief that the fire started before the airplane's impact with the ground. The airplane was powered by a converted Chevrolet 8 cylinder water-cooled engine. Examination of the engine subsequent to the accident revealed no deficiencies with the engine, but the accessories such as the carburetor and ignition systems had been destroyed by the fire. A broken fuel line fitting was found but no determination could be made as to whether the break occured prior to impact or if it was a result of the impact. ## Factual narrative On July 3, 2008, about 1755 central daylight time, an amateur-built Roof Curtis Hawk P6E, N386PE, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it impacted the ground following a loss of engine power during takeoff. A fire erupted. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot received serious injuries. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. In a telephone interview, the pilot stated that he was hospitalized for about 60 days after the accident. He reported that during the takeoff in his homebuilt replica of a Curtis Hawk P6E, the engine suddenly quit. He stated that the airplane was equipped with a backup ignition and a backup electric fuel pump. He stated that he was in the process of switching from the primary systems to the backup when he inadvertently stalled the airplane. He stated that there were no deficiencies in the flight control system of the airplane. The pilot stated that it was his belief that the fire started before the airplane's impact with the ground. The airplane was powered by a converted Chevrolet 8 cylinder water cooled engine. According to the pilot/builder, subsequent to the accident he disassembled the engine. He stated that the engine itself was intact and that he found no mechanical problems with it. He said that the accessories such as the carburetor and ignition systems had been destroyed by the fire. He stated that he did find a fuel fitting that was not fire damaged. It had broken off at the boss but he could not determine whether the fitting had broken off prior to impact or if it was a result of the impact. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N386PE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N386PE-2009-08-24), registration cancelled 2009-08-24, S/N 32-238, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Roof Curtis Hawk P6E - Registry model: [Roof Keith A CURTIS HAWK P6E](https://openairdocs.org/model/roof-keith-a-curtis-hawk-p6e) (registry code 05621ZP) (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: 32-238 - Airframe hours: 45 - Engines: Chevrolet 383 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Fire: Unknown - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: IOW, Iowa City, IA - Airport: IOW, Iowa City Municipal Airport, runway 30, 3,900 × 150 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; seat: rear; flight hours: 3,500 total, 45 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,500 ft broken - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: IOW ## 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 20080703841519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080703841519A), Jul 3, 2008: Curtis P6EHAWK, Iowa City, IA, Destroyed. (-23) N386PE departed runway 30. Ahlfway down the runway at approximately 50 feet AGL the engine lost power. The aircraft made a left turn to make an emergency… 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.