# NTSB ERA10LA374: Mulloy Charles Zodiac 601XL, N601CX, Enochville, NC, July 24, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 24, 2010, 12:32 local (16:32 UTC) - Place: Enochville, NC - Coordinates: 35.523887, -80.651947 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.5239&lon=-80.6519&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 13, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 76746 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA10LA374 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76746/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76746 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA10LA374 ## Probable cause Loss of engine power due to fuel contamination, and the pilot’s inadequate preflight of the fuel system. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mulloy Charles ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=05619S1), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Mulloy Charles ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05619S1), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Fuel contamination](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193) (defining event); cases with it: [Mulloy Charles ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md?model=05619S1), [All aircraft, 225 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/193/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mulloy Charles ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05619S1), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff the engine lost power. He performed a forced landing into a wooded area and the airplane came to rest inverted. Examination of the fuel system found water in the fuel line between the engine driven fuel pump, the carburetor, and the fuel strainer. With the exception of the water in the fuel, no additional evidence of any other preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction was found. Had the pilot checked the fuel before flight, he likely would have noted the presence of water and should have drained it. ## Factual narrative On July 24, 2010, at 1230 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur built Mulloy, Zodiac 601XL, N601CX, received substantial damage when it crashed shortly after takeoff from runway 31, at the Farrell James Airfield (PVT), Kannapolis, North Carolina. The certificated commercial pilot received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The airplane was registered to and operated by the commercial pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The flight was origination at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that shortly after takeoff the engine lost full power. The pilot performed a forced landing into a wooded area and the airplane came to rest inverted. Damage to the airplane included wings, the empennage, and the horizontal and vertical stabilizers. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector found the airplane inverted in a heavily wooded area off the end of runway 31. The airplane came to rest on a heading of 308 degrees magnetic. Flight control continuity was established for all control surfaces. Examination of the fuel system found water in the fuel line between the engine driven fuel pump and the carburetor, and in the fuel strainer. The inspector stated that he found no other pre-existing mechanical problems with the engine following his examination. A subsequent interview with the pilot revealed that he did not recall taking samples of the fuel via the sump drains during his preflight inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N601CX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N601CX), registered now, S/N 6-4842 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MULLOY CHARLES ZODIAC 601XL - Registry model: [Mulloy Charles ZODIAC 601XL](https://openairdocs.org/model/mulloy-charles-zodiac-601xl) (registry code 05619S1) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 6-4842 - Airframe hours: 194 - Engines: LYCOMING O-235 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: AAIP, March 10, 2010, 42 hours before - Departed: PVT, Enochville, NC - Destination: PVT, Kannapolis, NC - Airport: PVT, Farrell James Airfield ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: serious; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; last flight review February 22, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 5,467 total, 250 in this make and model, 5,359 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: RUQ ## 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 20100724046089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100724046089A), Jul 24, 2010: Mulloy Char ZODIAC 601X, Kannapolis, NC, Destroyed. On 7/24/2010 N601CX an experimental amateur built aircraft, model zodiac 601XL, serial number: 6-4842, piloted by [privacy data omitted], departed a private… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 26, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76746. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 165 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351523&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - FAA Digital Photo of Wreckage. (item 2, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351525&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Digital%20Photo%20of%20Wreckage.-Master.PDF - FAA Digital Photo, water in fuel strainer. (item 3, .PDF, 65 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351535&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Digital%20Photo,%20water%20in%20fuel%20strainer.-Master.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.