# NTSB CHI85FEM01: Skyranger Silver Cloud, N210JT, Bellaire, MI, August 22, 1985

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Final report
- Date: August 21, 1985, 20:15 local (Aug 22, 1985, 00:15 UTC)
- Place: Bellaire, MI
- Coordinates: 44.970443, -85.20037 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9704&lon=-85.2004&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 12883
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI85FEM01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/12883/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI85FEM01

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - aircraft service - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel system,tank - improper (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with object, descent - emergency
  - object - wire,transmission
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

THE ACFT CRASHED AFTER COLLIDING WITH WIRES DURING A FORCED LANDING AFTER A POWER LOSS DURING CLIMBOUT. THE PLT. BUILDER HAD RIGGED A TEMPORARY PLASTIC FUEL CONTAINER ON THE COCKPIT FLOOR BECAUSE THE MAIN WING TANKS HAD NOT BEEN INSTALLED. THIS FLOOR TANK WAS NOT HIGH ENOUGH TO GIVE GRAVITY FEED AND AS THE ACFT NOSED UP THE ENGINE WOULD TEND TO STOP OPERATING. AFTER A LOSS OF POWER THE PLT TURNED TO LAND BUT FAILED TO CLEAR A POWERLINE ENROUTE AND CRASHED IN A STEEP NOSE DOWN ATTITUDE. THE PLASTIC FUEL CONTAINER RUPTURED ON IMPACT AND DRENCHED THE PLT BUT THERE WAS NO FIRE. THE PLT WAS SUSPENDED UNCONSCIOUS UPSIDE DOWN IN HIS LAP BELT & SHOULDER HARNESS AND WAS RESCUED

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N210JT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N210JT-1991-04-02), registration cancelled 1991-04-02, S/N 021 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SKYRANGER SILVER CLOUD (SILVER CLO)
- Registry model: [Tweedie John D SKYRANGER SILV CLOUD](https://openairdocs.org/model/tweedie-john-d-skyranger-silv-cloud) (registry code 0565749) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 021
- Airframe hours: 3
- Engines: ROTAX 532 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Louis J. Fink, III
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: BELLAIRE, MI
- Destination: BELLAIRE, MI

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 35; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 400 total, 1 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 2,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 70 °F

## 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 19850821039769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19850821039769A), Aug 21, 1985: Amtr SKYRANGER, Bellaire, MI, Substantial damage. Used plastic container placed on cockpit floor as fuel tank. No gravity fuel flow. Engine quit. Hit wires, ground.

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.

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