# NTSB DEN08LA009: Jackson Pientenpol, N4400N, Chanute, KS, October 10, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 10, 2007, 18:15 local (23:15 UTC) - Place: Chanute, KS - Coordinates: 37.668888, -95.485 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6689&lon=-95.4850&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 66910 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08LA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66910/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA009 ## Probable cause Internal failure of the engine's starter-generator assembly. Contributing factors in this accident were the trees 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, takeoff - initial climb - engine accessories,engine starter - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The engine lost power shortly after the airplane lifted off the runway. During the forced landing, the airplane struck a power pole and terrain, shearing off both wings. A mechanic later reported finding the engine's internal starter-generator had failed, causing the engine to lose power. ## Factual narrative On October 10, 2007, approximately 1810 central daylight time, a Jackson Pientenpol, N4400N, registered to and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged when it struck a power pole during a forced landing after the engine lost power shortly after takeoff from Chanute, Kansas. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot was not injured. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The owner purchased the airplane on ebay but never bothered to have it registered. The previous owner dais he sold ther airplane to the current owner in an unairworthy condition. The new owner asked the pilot to make a "functional flight check" and the pilot agreed to do so. FAA said the pilot did not check the airplane's registration, airworthiness certificate, or maintenance records prior to the flight. According to an FAA inspector who went to the accident scene, the airplane's previous owner sold the airplane on ebay in an unairworthy condition. The new owner never bothered to register the airplane. The new owner asked the pilot to make a "functional flight check" of the airplane, and the pilot agreed to do so. FAA said the pilot did not check the airplane's registration, airworthiness certificate, or maintenance records prior to the flight. According to the pilot, the engine lost power shortly after the airplane lifted off the runway. During the forced landing, the airplane struck a power pole and terrain, shearing off both wings. The FAA inspector checked for fuel contamination and abnormal spark plug burn patterns. The fuel was free of contaminants and the spark plugs appeared normal. An FAA inspector later interviewed the pilot's mechanic. The mechanic stated that his disassembly and examination of the engine revealed that the internal starter-generator had failed, causing the engine to lose power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4400N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4400N-2021-05-08), registration cancelled 2021-05-08, S/N 002, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Jackson Pientenpol - Registry model: [Jackson Homer D PIETENPOL](https://openairdocs.org/model/jackson-homer-d-pietenpol) (registry code 704032Q) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 002 - Airframe hours: 27.2 - Engines: Volkswagen 1835CC 60 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Jacob Barazani - Registered owner: Kenny Schettler - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 1, 1994 - Departed: CNU, Chanute, KS - Destination: CNU - Airport: CNU, Chanute Martin Johnson Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; last flight review January 1, 2007 ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: CNU, 1 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 20071010823819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071010823819A), Oct 10, 2007: Amtr PIETENPOL, Chanute, KS, Substantial damage. (-23) On October 10, 2007 at approximately 1815 an amateur built Pietenpol fixed wind aircraft operated by the pilot [privacy data omitted] departed runway 36… 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.