# NTSB CHI96LA240: Sauder Avid Flyer HH, N399S, Stoneville, SD, July 13, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 13, 1996, 09:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Stoneville, SD - Coordinates: 44.559127, -102.660774 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.5591&lon=-102.6608&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 29, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10310 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA240 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10310/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA240 ## Probable cause loss of engine power for undetermined reason(s). A factor relating to the accident was: rough/uneven terrain in the emergency landing area. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - reason for occurrence undetermined (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot stated that while in cruise flight, the engine lost power without warning. He made a forced landing in a 'rugged' hay field. Also, he said the landing was hard, which resulted in the damage to the airplane. The pilot said he had no knowledge of why the engine lost power. An FAA inspector examined the airplane; he said there was fuel present after the accident and that he could find no reason for the engine not to operate. ## Factual narrative On July 13, 1996, at 0930 mountain daylight time, an Sauter Avid Flyer HH, N399S, sustained substantial damage during an emergency landing following a loss of engine power. The accident occurred 14 miles north-northwest of Stoneville, South Dakota. The pilot reported no injuries. The passenger suffered minor injuries. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was on file. The flight departed five miles north of Rapid City, South Dakota, at 0730 with the intended destination of Faith, South Dakota. The pilot stated that the engine lost power with "no warning." He was unable to determine the reason for the loss of power. He said that the landing was hard and on a "rugged" field. An examination of the airplane and engine by an inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration failed to reveal the nature of the power loss. The inspector commented that the owner/pilot had adjusted the valves on the day prior to the power loss and accident. The inspector said that there was fuel present after the accident. He said that all damage he noted was from impact and he could find no reason for the engine not to operate. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N399S](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N399S-2015-05-06), registration cancelled 2015-05-06, S/N 720, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Sauder AVID FLYER HH (AVID FLYER) - Registry model: [Sauder Darrel W AVID FLYER HH](https://openairdocs.org/model/sauder-darrel-w-avid-flyer-hh) (registry code 95708FU) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Subaru ALL MDLS A/B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/subaru-all-mdls-a-b) (registry code 59050, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 720 - Airframe hours: 75 - Engines: Subaru EA-8100 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Darrel W. Sauder - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 12, 1996, 2 hours before - Departed: NONE, RAPID CITY, SD - Destination: D07, FAITH, SD ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 10,000 total, 52 in this make and model, 3,000 as pilot in command, 280 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 5 knots - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °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 19960713017129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960713017129A), Jul 13, 1996: Amtr AVIDFLYERHH, Stoneville, SD, Substantial damage. Aircraft engine failed in flight, pilot made an emergency landing in a field. (.4)the pilot stated that while in cruise flight, the engine lost power without… 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.