# NTSB ERA09LA473: Flight Design Ctsw, N535CT, Okeechobee, FL, August 21, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 21, 2009, 10:25 local (14:25 UTC) - Place: Okeechobee, FL - Coordinates: 27.266387, -80.852775 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2664&lon=-80.8528&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 15, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA Orlando FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74572 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA473 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74572/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74572 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA473 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power during initial climb for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was on climbout at less than 1,250 feet mean sea level, at full power, when he heard a grinding noise followed by a total loss of engine power. He made a forced landing straight ahead to a pasture. The airplane touched down in soft, sandy soil, bounced and touched down again. The main landing gear sank in the sand, the airplane nosed over inverted, and the vertical fin received structural damage. Examination of the airframe and flight control assembly revealed no anomalies. The airplane was recovered to a repair facility for further examination and an engine run. About 10 gallons of fuel was removed from the fuel tanks. The oil filter and fuel gascolator were removed and no contamination was present. A replacement oil filter and the gascolator were reinstalled on the engine. The engine assembly was secured in a modified stand for an engine run. The engine was started, and ran at idle power before being advanced to 2,500 rpm. The power was increased to 4,000 rpm and no anomalies were noted. The engine power was reduced to idle power, and the engine was shut down. The reason for the reported loss of engine power was not determined. ## Factual narrative On August 22, 2009, about 1025 eastern daylight time, a Flight Design GMBH, CTSW, special light sport airplane, N535CT, registered to and operated by a private owner, as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight, experienced a total loss of engine power in cruise flight near Okeechobee, Florida. The pilot made a forced landing to a pasture, and the airplane nosed over inverted, receiving substantial damage to the airframe. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The private pilot received minor injuries. The flight originated from Okeechobee County Airport (OBE), Okeechobee, Florida, at 1020. The pilot stated he was on climbout at less than 1,250 feet mean sea level, at full power, when he heard a grinding noise followed by a total loss of engine power. He observed a pasture straight ahead, headed for it, and made a "MAYDAY" call over the airplane radio. He did not deploy the ballistic parachute because he was too low and homes were in the area. He flared the airplane; it touched down hard in the soft sandy soil, bounced, and touched down again. The main landing gear sank in the sand, and the airplane nosed over inverted. Examination of the crash site revealed the airplane collided with the ground on the main landing gear, bounced back in the air, collided with the ground and went forward about 50 feet before it nosed over and came to rest on a heading of 250 degrees magnetic. The engine assembly remained attached to the airframe and the engine cowling was intact. The spinner exhibited no evidence of rotation. All three propeller blades remained attached to the propeller crankshaft flange. One propeller blade was damaged. The nose wheel was bent aft. The forward cabin area was damaged. The throttle was in the closed position and the carburetor heat was in the off position. The fuel selector valve was in the off position. Continuity of the flight controls was confirmed from the flight controls aft to all flight control surfaces. The aircraft registration and the special airworthiness certificate were located in the airplane. The left and right landing gear were attached to the airframe. Both wings remained attached to the airframe and were not damaged. Neither fuel tank was ruptured; the fuel caps had a tight seal. The fuel vent stand pipes were bent. Browning of vegetation was not present on the ground. The right flap and right aileron were not damaged and remained attached to their attachment points. The empennage aft of the pilot’s compartment was not damaged. The rudder, left and right horizontal stabilizers, and elevators were not damaged. The top of the vertical fin was damaged. The right elevator trim tab was in the neutral position. The airplane was recovered to a repair facility for further examination and an engine run. Approximately 11 gallons of fuel was removed from the fuel tanks. The oil filter and fuel gascolator were examined and no contamination was present. A replacement oilfilter and the gascolator were reinstalled. The engine assembly was secured in a modified stand for an engine run. The engine was started, and ran at idle power before being advanced to 2,500 rpm. The power was increased to 4,000 rpm, and no anomalies were noted. The engine power was reduced to idle power, and the engine was shut down. ## Aircraft - Registration: N535CT (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: FLIGHT DESIGN GMBH CTSW - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 07-05-01 - Airframe hours: 235 - Engines: ROTAX 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bowen Donald P Trustee - Registered owner: Bowen Donald P Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 10, 2009, 32 hours before - Departed: OBE, Okeechobee, FL - Destination: FPR, Fort Pierce, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 5, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 6,215 total, 235 in this make and model, 6,000 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: OBE, 3 nm away ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74572. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317813&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40317814&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector Statement (item 3, .PDF, 185 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319348&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Redacted.PDF 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.