# NTSB ERA11CA373: Leatherman Karl L Zodiac CH 601 HDS, N67KL, Gray Court, SC, June 30, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 30, 2011, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Gray Court, SC - Coordinates: 34.605807, -82.117905 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6058&lon=-82.1179&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 27, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 80947 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11CA373 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80947/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80947 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11CA373 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power due to the failure of the radiator coolant supply fitting. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng liquid cooling](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058570): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Leatherman Karl L ZODIAC CH 601 HDS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058570/cases.md?model=05624O0), [All aircraft, 17 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058570/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Leatherman Karl L ZODIAC CH 601 HDS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05624O0), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Leatherman Karl L ZODIAC CH 601 HDS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05624O0), [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: [Leatherman Karl L ZODIAC CH 601 HDS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05624O0), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Leatherman Karl L ZODIAC CH 601 HDS, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05624O0), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N67KL-2012-12-03), registration cancelled 2012-12-03, S/N 6-3799, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LEATHERMAN KARL L ZODIAC CH 601 HDS - Registry model: [Leatherman Karl L ZODIAC CH 601 HDS](https://openairdocs.org/model/leatherman-karl-l-zodiac-ch-601-hds) (registry code 05624O0) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Subaru ALL MDLS A/B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/subaru-all-mdls-a-b) (registry code 59050, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 6-3799 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; 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 ## 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 20110630013379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110630013379A), Jun 30, 2011: Leatherman Karl L ZODIAC CH 601 HDS, Gray Court, SC, Substantial damage. About 0930 on June 30th 2011, while flying level a 2000FT. Pilot noticed increase in temp and decrease in water pressure. Water started coming over the wind… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 16, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80947. 319 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 156 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355327&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather document (item 2, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355328&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20document-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Showing broken water hose fitting. (item 3, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40355329&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Showing%20broken%20water%20hose%20fitting.-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.