- Date
- June 30, 2011, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC)
- Place
- Gray Court, SC
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N67KLLeatherman Karl L Zodiac CH 601 HDS
- Defining event
- Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 27, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA FSDO
- FAA report
- 20110630013379A
- Case key
- 80947
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The total loss of engine power due to the failure of the radiator coolant supply fitting.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
After climbing to about 1,500 feet and flying uneventfully for 30 minutes, the pilot noticed an increase in engine coolant temperature. Shortly thereafter, water sprayed over the windscreen and the engine started to lose power. At that time, the pilot suspected a radiator water hose failed. He started a descent and landed the airplane in a field. During the rollout, the airplane struck several small pine trees and high vegetation resulting in substantial damage to the wings. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the water hose fitting going into the radiator was fractured and that the hose clamp and hose were still attached to the broken fitting. The reason for the failure of the fitting could not be determined.
Factual narrative
After climbing to about 1,500 feet and 30 minutes of uneventful flight, the pilot noticed an increase in engine coolant temperature. Shortly thereafter, water sprayed over the windscreen and the engine started to lose power. At that time, the pilot suspected a radiator water hose failed. He started a decent and landed the airplane in a field. During the rollout, the airplane struck several small pine trees and high vegetation resulting in substantial damage to the wings. During and examination of the airplane after the accident, an FAA inspector and the pilot discovered that the water hose fitting going into the radiator was fractured, and that the hose clamp and hose were still attached to the broken fitting. The reason for the failure of the fitting could not be determined.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N67KL
- Reported as
- Leatherman Karl L Zodiac CH 601 HDS
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 6-3799
- Engine
- Subaru ALL MDLS A/B, 400 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Leatherman Karl L
- Registered owner
- Leatherman Karl L
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- LUX · Laurens, SC
- Destination
- LUX · Laurens, SC
- Flight plan
- Unknown
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 78
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Sport pilot, Unknown
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 200 total · 55 in this make and model · 20 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.00 inHg
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 16, 2011, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 319 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.