# NTSB ERA22FA056: Zenith CH601, N22XF, Oak Hill, FL, November 10, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report - Date: November 10, 2021, 10:03 local (15:03 UTC) - Place: Oak Hill, FL · Heavy Jungle Terrain - Coordinates: 28.866945, -80.913736 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8669&lon=-80.9137&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104235 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22FA056 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104235/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104235 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22FA056 ## Probable cause A loss of airplane control while maneuvering at low altitude. ## 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: [Stephen E Massel ZENITH ZODIAC CH601, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05640BQ), [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. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Stephen E Massel ZENITH ZODIAC CH601, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05640BQ), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to radar data, after takeoff, the pilot flew for about 3 minutes at an altitude of about 200 ft above ground level before making a left turn at a ground speed of 98 knots. Shortly after the turn, the radar data ended. The wreckage was located in heavily wooded, jungle-like terrain, in the immediate vicinity of the last radar return. An on-scene examination revealed the airplane likely impacted trees then the ground in a steep nose-down attitude at a high rate of speed. There was a strong odor of aviation fuel around the impact area. All major components of the airplane were located at the accident site. The engine was buried about 2 ft into the ground and the empennage was folded forward over the cockpit area. The two-blade wooden propeller was fragmented but located in the impact crater with the engine. Examination of the airplane wreckage and engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical deficiencies that would have precluded normal operation at the time of impact. As such, it could not be determined why the airplane descended to ground impact. Toxicological testing of postmortem specimens from the pilot were positive for ethanol and n-butanol. Detection of these substances was most likely due to postmortem production (rather than consumption) and likely did not contribute to the accident. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 10, 2021, about 1003 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built Zenith CH601, N22XF, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Oak Hill, Florida. The pilot/builder/owner was fatally injured. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. There were no witnesses to the accident and the pilot was not communicating with air traffic control. A review of radar data revealed the airplane departed Massey Ranch Airpark (X50), New Smyrna Beach, Florida, at 1000. The airplane traveled south for about 3 minutes at an altitude of 200 ft above ground level before it made a left turn to the east. The last radar return was at 1003, and the airplane was traveling on a heading of 070° at a ground speed of 98 knots. The airplane wreckage was located within the immediate vicinity of the last radar return. PILOT INFORMATION The pilot held a foreign-based Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) private pilot certificate for airplane single-land airplane. He completed a BasicMed training course and Comprehensive Medical Examination Checklist on February 28, 2021. A review of the pilot’s flight logbook revealed that his last logged flight was on November 3, 2021. At that time, he had a total of 177.3 total flight hours, of which, 5.1 hours were in the accident airplane. AIRPLANE INFORMATION The pilot had recently completed building the airplane and was issued an FAA special airworthiness certificate on September 29, 2021. The airplane and engine had accrued a total of about 8 hours at the time of the accident. WRECKAGE INFORMATION The airplane came to rest in heavily wooded and jungle-like terrain on private property. An on-scene examination revealed the airplane impacted trees then the ground. There was no post-impact fire despite a strong odor of aviation fuel around the impact area. All major components of the airplane were located at the accident site. The engine was buried about 2 ft into the ground and the empennage was folded forward over the cockpit area. The two-blade wooden propeller was fragmented and pieces were located in the impact crater with the engine. The left wing was separated about three feet from the wing root but remained connected by the aileron control cables. Both wings sustained extensive leading edge impact damage. Flight control continuity was established for all major flight components from the flight control surface to the cockpit though there were some breaks in the system due to impact forces and postaccident recovery efforts by rescue personnel. The horizontal stabilator was separated from the empennage and was lying to the left of the main wreckage. The flying rudder had also separated and was lying behind the main wreckage. The electronic elevator trim servo was damaged from impact and a trim setting could not be determined. No mechanical deficiencies were observed with the airframe or flight controls that would haveprecluded normal operation at the time of impact. The engine sustained impact damage and all four cylinders were pushed slightly aft. The No. 2 and No.4 push rods were also damaged. The top spark plugs were removed, and the interior of each cylinder was examined via borescope. No anomalies were noted with the tops of each piston, the cylinders wall or their respective valves. The top spark plugs appeared normal when compared to the Champion Check-A-Plug chart. All the accessories remained attached to the engine and were removed to facilitate engine rotation. The alternator was pushed into the case, was locked, and would not turn freely. Both magnetos were placed on a test bench, and spark was produced at all terminals. The starter was unremarkable. The oil filter was crushed and filled with mud; however, light colored oil was observed throughout the engine. When the engine’s crankshaft was manually rotated via the propeller flange, it would not turn more than 270 degrees. The impact damaged No. 2 and No. 4 push rods were removed, and the crankshaft rotated freely. Compression was established on each cylinder and valve train continuity was observed on the No. 1 and No. 3 cylinders. The carburetor was disassembled. The fuel finger screen exhibited some light debris. The bowl was empty of fuel and the metal floats had collapsed. The electric fuel pump functioned normally when power was applied. No mechanical deficiencies were observed that would have precluded normal engine operation at the time of impact. The airplane was equipped with a dash mounted attitude and heading reference system (AHRS). The unit was destroyed from impact forces and the memory card that could have contained non-volatile memory from the accident flight was not located. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION The Volusia County District 7 Medical Examiner’s Office performed the pilot’s autopsy. According to the autopsy report, the cause of death was multiple blunt force injuries, and the manner of death was accident. Two labs performed toxicological testing of postmortem specimens from the pilot. One lab detected ethanol at 0.017 g/dL in cavity blood. The other lab detected ethanol at 0.014 g/dL in blood, 0.017 g/dL in heart tissue, 0.028 g/dL in brain tissue, and 0.122 g/dL in muscle tissue. That lab also detected n-butanol in muscle tissue. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N22XF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N22XF), registered now, S/N 6-3611, built 2021 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ZENITH CH601 - Registry model: [Stephen E Massel ZENITH ZODIAC CH601](https://openairdocs.org/model/stephen-e-massel-zenith-zodiac-ch601) (registry code 05640BQ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 6-3611 - Year built: 2021 - Airframe hours: 8 - Engines: Continental O-200 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 28, 2021, 7.6 hours before - Departed: X50, New Smyrna, FL - Equipment: ADS-B, Data recorder ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 6, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 177.3 total, 5.1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: EVB, 11 nm away - METAR: METAR KEVB 151447Z 36008KT 10SM CLR 17/08 A3021 ## 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 20211110020469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211110020469A), Nov 10, 2021: Stephen E Massel ZENITH ZODIAC CH601, Oak Hill, FL, Destroyed, 1 fatal. On November 10, 2021 at approximately 1003 local time an experimental amateur built aircraft zodiac zenith CH601, N22XF was involved in an accident in Oak… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104235. 10.5 MB in all. - Photos (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 7 photos, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13834312&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Radar plots (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 721 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13830767&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Plotted%20Radar%20Data-Rel.pdf - Flight track data - tabular (item 3, CSV, 963 B): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13830891&FileExtension=csv&FileName=N22XF%20OpsVue%20data-Rel.csv - Maintenance records and special airworthiness certificate (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13841449&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Mx%20Records_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB medical officer factual report (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 230 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13830020&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22FA056_MedicalFactualReport-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13829944&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=TOX%20REPORT%208_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 with evidence control form (servo) (item 7, PDF, 2 pages, 579 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13833178&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Release%20and%20ECF_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Evidence control form - logbooks and maintenance records (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13830880&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Evidence%20Control%20Form%20-%20pilot%20and%20Mx%20Records-Rel.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.