# NTSB ERA24LA195: Reddick Jonathan L Zodiac 601XLB, N601DR, Dunbar, PA, April 27, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 27, 2024, 19:43 local (23:43 UTC) - Place: Dunbar, PA · Unknown exact location at this time - Coordinates: 39.96497, -79.653375 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.9650&lon=-79.6534&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 194168 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA195 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194168/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194168 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA195 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power as a result of an improperly fabricated fuel-air mixture cable bracket. Contributing was the pilot’s decision to fly the airplane with a known mechanical engine issue, and the presence of another airplane that was back taxiing on the runway while the pilot was attempting to maneuver the airplane for landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine controls: mixture control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057602): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Design (probable cause); cases with it: [Reddick Jonathan L ZODIAC 601XLB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057602/cases.md?model=05633UK), [All aircraft, 41 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057602/cases.md) - [Maintenance: fabrication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Reddick Jonathan L ZODIAC 601XLB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062025/cases.md?model=05633UK), [All aircraft, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062025/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Reddick Jonathan L ZODIAC 601XLB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=05633UK), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome (probable cause); cases with it: [Reddick Jonathan L ZODIAC 601XLB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md?model=05633UK), [All aircraft, 116 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Reddick Jonathan L ZODIAC 601XLB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05633UK), [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: [Reddick Jonathan L ZODIAC 601XLB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05633UK), [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: [Reddick Jonathan L ZODIAC 601XLB, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05633UK), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to test cooling plenum changes that he had recently made to the experimental amateur-built airplane’s automotive conversion engine. After takeoff on the planned flight in the airport traffic pattern, the pilot heard over the radio that another airplane was inbound to the airport for touch-and-go landings, so he flew away from the airport and performed ground reference maneuvers. Shortly after, the pilot returned to the traffic pattern, entering on the upwind leg. Upon turning onto the crosswind leg, his engine began to “sputter”, so he made a 180° turn to land on the opposite direction of the same runway. About that time, he noticed that the other airplane was back taxiing on the runway. He elected to not land on the parallel taxiway due to its condition and out of concern for a possible collision with another aircraft. The pilot overflew the other airplane on the runway, and shortly thereafter his airplane’s engine lost power completely as he neared the end of the runway. About that time the pilot was turning the airplane left, but could feel it slowing, so he leveled the wings and landed straight ahead, perpendicular to the runway. The airplane subsequently traveled over a grass embankment and contacted trees, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage structure. The pilot stated that following the accident, an examination of the engine revealed that a bracket for the fuel/air mixture cable had “bent and overextended,” which resulted in the engine’s fuel/air mixture becoming excessively lean. The pilot stated that he had fabricated the bracket during a recent engine replacement and knew that a new bracket would need to be refabricated but had not completed the task it before the accident flight. Based on this information, it is likely that the loss of engine power was the result of the improperly fabricated bracket, which resulted in an excessively lean mixture to the airplane’s engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N601DR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N601DR), registered now, S/N 6-5554, built 2015 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: REDDICK JONATHAN L ZODIAC 601XLB - Registry model: [Reddick Jonathan L ZODIAC 601XLB](https://openairdocs.org/model/reddick-jonathan-l-zodiac-601xlb) (registry code 05633UK) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 6-5554 - Year built: 2015 - Airframe hours: 360.1 - Engines: Azalea Aviation 100HP 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Condition, March 18, 2022, 1.5 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: VVS, Joseph A Hardy Connellsville, runway 05/23, 3,833 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 61; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 13, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 258 total, 203 in this make and model, 197 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 3 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.16 inHg - Observed at: LBE, 18 nm away - METAR: KLBE 272351Z 10003KT 15SM CLR 16/12 A3016 ## 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 20240427005059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240427005059A), Apr 27, 2024: Reddick Jonathan L ZODIAC 601XLB, Connellsville, PA, Destroyed. [privacy data omitted] Is an experimental aircraft that took off from Connellsville Airport “vvs”. Pilot was having engine cooling issues. Pilot said it was… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 22, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194168. 7.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17803325&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA195%20Pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 80 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17984125&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA195%20Accident%20Pilot%20Interview_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Cap instructor interview (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17803059&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA195%20CAP%20Instructor%20Interview-Rel.pdf - Cap student receiving instruction interview (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 102 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17803831&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA195%20CAP%20Student%20Interview-Rel.pdf - Witness statements (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17812220&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA195%20Witness%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 6, PDF, 2 pages, 983 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17804081&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA195%20Photo%20Array_Redacted-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.