# NTSB DEN00LA064: Johnson Zodiac CH 601 HDS, N984J, West Jordan, UT, March 24, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 24, 2000, 11:32 local (18:32 UTC) - Place: West Jordan, UT - Coordinates: 40.620399, -111.980369 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6204&lon=-111.9804&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48864 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA064 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48864/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA064 ## Probable cause Total failure of an oil line fitting, resulting in oil exhaustion and subsequent engine seizure. Factors were the poor fitting installation by the pilot, and unsuitable terrain on which to make a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - maintenance,installation - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor) - lubricating system,oil line - failure,total (cause) - fluid,oil - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - object - other ## Analysis For the second flight of the homebuilt airplane, the pilot/builder took off and remained in the traffic pattern. While on the downwind leg and approaching the base leg turn, the engine began 'misfiring and/or running very rough.' Smoke filled the cabin, and the engine seized shortly thereafter. During the forced landing, the airplane clipped a high stack of PVC pipes and impacted the ground inverted. Postaccident investigation disclosed the pilot had removed the engine oil pressure sending unit from the engine oil pressure port, located on the right side of the engine-driven oil pump housing. He then installed a common automotive brass T-fitting, to which he attached both the oil pressure sending unit and a Hobbs hour meter fluid pressure-activated switch. The T-fitting failed in the pipe thread, flush with the pump housing exterior surface. The arm of the 'sending unit assembly' was about 4.5 inches long, with an estimated weight of about 7 ounces. The path of the engine cooling air directed the leaking oil to the cabin air heat muff, where it was burned by the muffler prior to entering the cabin, accounting for the smoke in the cabin. ## Factual narrative On March 24, 2000, at 1132 mountain standard time, a Johnson Zodiac CH 601 HDS, N984J, registered to and operated by the pilot, was destroyed when it collided with objects and terrain 100 yards south of the southwest boundary of Salt Lake City Municipal 2 Airport, Salt Lake City, Utah. The private pilot, the only occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight being conducted under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The flight originated from Salt Lake City Municipal 2 Airport just before the accident. According to the pilot's accident report, this was the airplane's second flight. He took off on runway 34 and remained in the traffic pattern. While on the downwind leg and approaching the base leg turn, the engine began "misfiring and/or running very rough." Smoke filled the cabin, the engine began to lose power, then seized. The pilot said the "high sink rate and the headwind caused [him] to fall short of the runway by 200 yards." The airplane clipped a high stack of PVC pipes and impacted the ground inverted. According to the FAA inspector who examined the airplane, the pilot had "removed the engine oil pressure sending unit from the engine oil pressure port, located on the right side of the engine-driven oil pump housing. He then installed a common automotive brass T-fitting, to which he attached both the oil pressure sending unit and a Hobbs hour meter fluid pressure-activated switch. The T-fitting failed in the pipe thread, flush with the pump housing exterior surface. The arm of the 'sending unit assembly' was about 4.5 inches, with an estimated weight of about 7 ounces. The path of the engine cooling air directed the leaking oil to the cabin air heat muff, where it was burned by the muffler prior to entering the cabin, accounting for the smoke in the cabin." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N984J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N984J-2000-09-01), registration cancelled 2000-09-01, S/N 63848 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Johnson ZODIAC CH 601 HDS (ZODIAC CH) - Registry model: [Johnson Rex S ZODIAC CH 601 HDS](https://openairdocs.org/model/johnson-rex-s-zodiac-ch-601-hds) (registry code 05606O1) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 63848 - Airframe hours: 6 - Engines: Rotax 912 UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Rex S. Johnson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: U42, UT - Airport: U42, Salt Lake City Muni 2 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 162 total, 2 in this make and model, 162 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SLC, 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 20000324004869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000324004869A), Mar 24, 2000: Amtr CH601HDS, Salt Lake City, UT, No damage. (-23) A/c was down wind for landing when a beam the approach end of the runway the a/c experienced a power loss with smoke in the cockpit, followed by seizure… 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.