# NTSB CHI98LA303: Cook Teenie TWO, N40512, Stevensville, MI, July 18, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 18, 1998, 19:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Stevensville, MI - Coordinates: 42.009494, -86.520965 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0095&lon=-86.5210&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Emergency descent](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/600) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43635 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI98LA303 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43635/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI98LA303 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate preflight planning and preparation which resulted in fuel exhaustion and subsequent loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, descent - emergency - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - preflight planning/preparation - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing ## Analysis The pilot said that he was in cruise flight approximately 500 feet above the ground when the engine rpm began slowly decreasing. The pilot initiated a climb at full power, turned on the back-up battery, and applied carburetor heat. There was no change in engine rpm. The pilot planned to land on a road adjacent to a corn field. At the time, there were no people or cars in sight. While turning from base leg to final, 'the plane started stalling.' The pilot pushed the control stick forward to get the nose down. It was at that time that the engine lost all power. The pilot said that he was unable to get full control of the airplane back. The airplane impacted between the road and the corn field. Examination of the airplane's fuel system and engine revealed no evidence of fuel. No other anomalies with the airplane were revealed. ## Factual narrative On July 18, 1998, at 1930 eastern daylight time (edt), a Cook Teenie Two, N40512, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when during cruise flight the airplane's engine lost power. During the subsequent forced landing, the airplane impacted in a corn field. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. There was no flight plan on file. The pilot reported minor injuries. The local flight originated at Berrien Springs, Michigan, at 1910 edt. In his written statement, the pilot said that he was in cruise flight approximately 500 feet above the ground when the engine rpm began slowly decreasing. The pilot initiated a climb at full power, turned on the back-up battery, and applied carburetor heat. There was no change in engine rpm. The pilot said that he planned to land on a road adjacent to a corn field. At the time, there were no people or cars in sight. While turning from base leg to final, "the plane started stalling." The pilot pushed the control stick forward to get the nose down. It was at that time that the engine lost all power. The pilot said that he was unable to get full control of the airplane back. He set the airplane down between the road and the corn field. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the wreckage at a nearby hangar. The airplane's nose wheel was broken off. One of the two wooden propeller blades was broken aft. The airplane's bottom cowling and bottom forward fuselage were crushed upward. The engine was bent upward at the mounts. The engine firewall was buckled forward. The airplane's right wing showed skin wrinkles. The remainder of the airplane was undamaged. Flight control continuity was confirmed. Examination of the airplane's 9 gallon fuel tank showed it void of fuel. Examination of the airplane's fuel system and engine revealed no evidence of fuel. A State Police officer, who responded to the accident, stated that there was no smell of fuel at the accident site or on the pilot. No other anomalies with the airplane were revealed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N40512](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40512-2005-01-05), registration cancelled 2005-01-05, S/N C001, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cook TEENIE TWO - Registry model: [Cook Andrew Scott TEENIE TWO](https://openairdocs.org/model/cook-andrew-scott-teenie-two) (registry code 05625TC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Volkswagen CONVERSION](https://openairdocs.org/engine/volkswagen-conversion) (registry code 63501, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: C001 - Airframe hours: 55 - Engines: Volkswagen 1600CC 54 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Robert F. Gaiser - Registered owner: Andrew Scott Cook - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: C20, BERRIEN SPRINGS, MI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 1,500 total, 11 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BEH, 7 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 19980718034989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980718034989A), Jul 18, 1998: Amtrpk TEENIE2, Stevensville, MI, Substantial damage. On July 18, 1998, at 1930 eastern daylight time (EDT), a cook teenie two, N40512, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when during cruise… 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.