CHI98LA242

NTSB accident investigation · Brunnemer HMB-2 · Greenwood, IN · July 4, 1998

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 4, 1998, 09:10 local (14:10 UTC)
Place
Greenwood, IN
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Enroute
Aircraft
N9129FBrunnemer HMB-2
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report February 15, 2001
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19980704016279A
Case key
10954

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

A loss of engine power due to a fractured ignition coil. A factor to the accident was the soft terrain.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malfCruise - normal
Ignition system,ignition coil - fracturedCause
Forced landingDescent - emergency
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - emergency
Terrain condition - softFactor

Analysis

The pilot stated that approximately 10 minutes into the flight the engine loss complete power. The pilot was cruising at an approximate altitude of 700' above ground level (agl). The pilot completed a forced landing into a soybean field and upon touchdown the aircraft dug into the soft terrain. The front wheel contacted the terrain first, resulting in the aircraft to nose over and come to rest in an inverted position. The pilot stated that the area had received 1.5 inches of rain the night before, and that produced the 6 inches of mud that was present in the soybean field. Post accident investigation showed that the ignition coil had broken due to fatigue from operational vibrations. No other engine or aircraft anomalies were found.

Factual narrative

On July 4, 1998, at 0910 central daylight time, a Brunnemer HMB-2, N9129F, piloted by a private pilot, received substantial damage when it impacted the terrain during a forced landing, following a loss of engine power during cruise flight, near Greenwood, Indiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed a private airstrip near Franklin, Indiana, at 0900, with the intended destination of Putnam County Airport, near Greencastle, Indiana.

According to the pilot's written statement, the pilot stated that approximately 10 minutes into the flight the engine loss complete power. The pilot was cruising at an approximate altitude of 700' above ground level (agl). The pilot completed a forced landing into a soybean field and upon touchdown the aircraft dug into the soft terrain. The front wheel contacted the terrain first, resulting in the aircraft to nose over and come to rest in an inverted position. The pilot stated that the area had received 1.5 inches of rain the night before, and that produced the 6 inches of mud that was present in the soybean field.

Post accident investigation showed that the ignition coil had broken. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector stated that the fatigue was attributed to operational vibrations. No other engine or aircraft anomalies were found.

Aircraft

Registration
N9129F
Reported as
Brunnemer HMB-2
Category
Gyroplane, amateur-built
Serial number
9-95-2
Airframe hours
93
Engine
Subaru EJ22, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Harlan M. Brunnemer
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · December 30, 1997 · 18 hours before
Departed
71II · Franklin, IN
Destination
4I7 · Greencastle, IN

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
59
Certificate
Private
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Center
Flight hours
225 total · 225 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
270° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
700 ft broken
Temperature
72 °F, dew point 70 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
IND, 12 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.