# NTSB CHI90DEP10: Brose Cirrus VK-30, N420A, Baraboo, WI, August 28, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: August 28, 1990, 16:38 local (21:38 UTC)
- Place: Baraboo, WI
- Coordinates: 43.459075, -89.739768 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4591&lon=-89.7398&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 12, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 14483
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI90DEP10
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/14483/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI90DEP10

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT AND MISJUDGEMENT OF THE AMOUNT OF FUEL ON BOARD, WHICH RESULTED IN FUEL EXHAUSTION AND LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, DUE TO AN INADEQUATE SUPPLY OF FUEL. THE INOPERATIVE FUEL TOTALIZER WAS A RELATED FACTOR.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal
  - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - fuel system,fuel quantity float/sensor - inoperative (contributing factor)
  - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause)
  - fuel supply - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor)

## Analysis

WHILE THE AMATEUR BUILT AIRCRAFT WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT, A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER OCCURRED, AND A FORCED LANDING WAS INITIATED. THE LANDING WAS MADE IN AN OPEN FIELD WITH THE LANDING GEAR RETRACTED. THE AIRCRAFT SLID APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET AFTER INITIAL TOUCHDOWN AND CAME TO REST IN A DITCH AFTER THE LEFT WING STRUCK A SCRUB TREE. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE; HOWEVER, THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER REPORTED NO INJURIES. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED NO USABLE FUEL ON BOARD THE AIRCRAFT. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE FUEL TOTALIZER HAD NOT BEEN WORKING FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND THAT HE WAS FORCED TO USE VISUAL ESTIMATES OF THE FUEL STATUS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N420A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N420A-1994-05-27), registration cancelled 1994-05-27, S/N 0001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BROSE CIRRUS VK-30 (CIRRUS VK-)
- Registry model: [Brose Donal A CIRRUS](https://openairdocs.org/model/brose-donal-a-cirrus) (registry code 05616NB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 0001
- Airframe hours: 63
- Engines: ALLISON 250-B17C 420 horsepower turbo prop
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Donall A. Brose
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, July 23, 1990, 63 hours before
- Airport: C85, Baraboo

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 1,209 total, 61 in this make and model, 1,209 as pilot in command, 61 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 360° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: MSN, 30 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 19900828037079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900828037079A), Aug 28, 1990: Sphrth CIRRUS, Baraboo, WI, Substantial damage. Ran out of fuel on a test flight. Crash landed gear up in open field. Fuel totalizer and quanity gage inoperative.

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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