# NTSB FTW95LA313: Steinke Early Bird, N593JN, Akron, CO, July 23, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 23, 1995, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Akron, CO - Coordinates: 40.159683, -103.209518 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1597&lon=-103.2095&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 19510 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW95LA313 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/19510/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA313 ## Probable cause FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO PROPERLY FLARE THE AIRPLANE FOR LANDING DURING AN EMERGENCY LANDING AFTER TAKEOFF. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENTS WERE: A MALFUNCTION OF THE SIDE RAVE VALVE, AN EXCESSIVELY RICH FUEL MIXTURE, AND THE HIGH DENSITY ALTITUDE, WHICH RESULTED IN A PARTIAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb - powerplant - other (contributing factor) - fuel system,carburetor - excessive flow/output (contributing factor) - weather condition - high density altitude (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - Hard landing, emergency landing after takeoff - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, emergency landing after takeoff ## Analysis THE PILOT SAID THAT DURING TAKEOFF FROM AN EN ROUTE STOP ON A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT, THE AIRCRAFT FELT SLUGGISH AFTER BECOMING AIRBORNE AND THAT THE ENGINE FAILED TO PRODUCE SUFFICIENT POWER TO REMAIN IN THE AIR. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE WHICH WAS HARD. REPORTEDLY, THE AIRCRAFT BOUNCED AND DRIFTED OFF THE RUNWAY, WHERE IT TOUCHED DOWN, SHEARING OFF THE MAIN LANDING GEAR AND NOSED OVER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH A ROTORY ENGINE. EXAMINATION OF THE ROTORY ENGINE PROVIDED EVIDENCE THAT THE PTO SIDE RAVE VALVE MAY HAVE STUCK SHUT, LIMITING MAXIMUM RPM. ALSO, THE MIXTURE (WHICH WAS ADJUSTABLE ON THE GROUND) WAS SET SO THAT THE CARBURETOR JETTING WAS TOO RICH FOR THE DENSITY ALTITUDE. THE DENSITY ALTITUDE AT THE AIRPORT WAS APPROXIMATELY 7,200 FEET AT THE TIME OF TAKEOFF. ## Factual narrative On July 23, 1995, at 1200 mountain daylight time, a homebuilt Steinke Early Bird homebuilt (2/3 scale Jenny), N593JN, landed hard following a partial power loss on takeoff from Akron, Colorado. The pilot was not injured and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for this personal flight to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. According to the pilot, the aircraft was sluggish after takeoff and in an interview said the "engine was not developing sufficient power to remain airborne." The pilot stated that he made a hard landing, bounced, and allowed the aircraft to drift off the runway where it touched down breaking off the main landing gear and nosed over. The engine was removed and sent to Northland Recreational Products, Phillips, Wisconsin, for examination. According to the attached examination report provided by that facility, there were several problems noted with the engine which would account for the partial power loss. Item number 2 reported a PTO side rave valve possibly being stuck shut. This may have caused maximum rpm to be limited. Item number 3 reported a problem with an overly rich mixture. This problem would be exacerbated by density altitude which was approximately 7,200 feet above mean sea level at the Akron Airport. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N593JN](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N593JN-2018-08-22), registration cancelled 2018-08-22, S/N 000113, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STEINKE EARLY BIRD - Registry model: [Steinke Gary H EARLY BIRD ACFT-JENN](https://openairdocs.org/model/steinke-gary-h-early-bird-acft-jenn) (registry code 05623TB) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 000113 - Airframe hours: 45 - Engines: ROTAX 583 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gary H. Steinke - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 26, 1994, 45 hours before - Departed: AKO, CO - Destination: 42V, BENKELMAN, NE - Airport: AKO, Washington County, runway 29, 7,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 109 total, 45 in this make and model, 58 as pilot in command, 31 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 9 knots - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: AKO, 1 nm away ## 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 19950723019369A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950723019369A), Jul 23, 1995: Amtr EARLYBIRDJNY, Akron, CO, Substantial damage. After fuel stop. Sluggish on climbout engine not at full power, aborted. Nosed over. Fixture too rich. Valve stuck. ## Other investigations on N593JN (1) 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. - [NTSB LAX00LA317](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA317), Aug 26, 2000: Steinke Early Bird -JENNY (N593JN), Chino, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The engine lost power for undetermined reasons and nosed over in a soft field during the resulting forced landing. 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.