# NTSB CHI86FA193: Capetown Builders Glasair RG, N137JM, Fond Du Lac, WI, August 1, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: August 1, 1986, 16:15 local (21:15 UTC)
- Place: Fond Du Lac, WI
- Coordinates: 43.770481, -88.439445 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7705&lon=-88.4394&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13268
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI86FA193
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13268/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI86FA193

## Sequence of events

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

- Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, cruise
  - electrical system,alternator - failure,total (cause)
- Nose gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload (cause)
  - terrain condition - soft (cause)
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown

## Analysis

THE PILOT EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE THAT WAS CAUSED BY A BROKEN WIRE AT AN ALTERNATOR TERMINAL. UPON EXTENSION OF THE HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED LANDING GEAR A SAFE GEAR DOWN INDICATION WAS NOT OBTAINED. ACTIVATION OF THE CO2 OPERATED EMERGENCY GEAR EXTENSION SYSTEM FAILED TO PROVIDE A SAFE GEAR DOWN INDICATION. THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE WITH ANY FACILITY TO DETERMINE THE POSITION OF THE LANDING GEAR BECAUSE OF THE LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER. HE ELECTED TO LAND ON THE GRASS ADJACENT TO THE RUNWAY. THE GEAR WAS DOWN AND UPON TOUCHDOWN, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED WHEN IT DUG INTO THE SOFT TERRAIN. THE AIRCRAFT THEN FLIPPED INVERTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N137JM (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CAPETOWN BUILDERS GLASAIR RG
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 137
- Airframe hours: 434
- Engines: LYCOMING IO-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Capetown Builders, Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, July 16, 1986, 25 hours before
- Departed: IND, INDIANAPOLIS, IN
- Flight plan: IFR
- Airport: FLD, Fond Du Lac County

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 32; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,784 total, 100 in this make and model, 1,360 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 15,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: OSH, 13 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 19860801060159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19860801060159A), Aug 1, 1986: Amtr GLASAIR, Fond Du Lac, WI, Destroyed. Due to electrical failure, aircraft landed beside runway and nosed over. Alternator output wire found broken.

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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