# NTSB FTW98LA302: Keith Team Mini MAX 1600R, N106BK, Santa Fe, TX, July 4, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 4, 1998, 12:08 local (17:08 UTC) - Place: Santa Fe, TX - Coordinates: 29.37981, -95.090476 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.3798&lon=-95.0905&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 11, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43162 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW98LA302 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43162/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA302 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power as result of the failure of the cooling fan belt. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the pilot to execute the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - cooling system - failure,total (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - terrain condition - hidden obstruction(s) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot was en route and approximately 7 miles from his destination airport, when he observed 'a rise in the cylinder head temperature of the number 1 cylinder.' He attempted to control the temperature by 'coming completely out of the throttle and then going back to full throttle.' At 1,200 feet AGL, the Rotax 503 engine lost power. The pilot stated that he immediately 'put the plane into the best glide rate' and landed the aircraft in a field 'without problems.' During the landing roll, the right wing struck a steel object which was obscured by weeds. Examination of the engine by the owner revealed that the lost of engine power was the result of engine overheating due to the failure of the fan belt to the engine cooling fan. ## Factual narrative On July 4, 1998, at 1208 central daylight time, a Keith Team Mini Max 1600R, experimental airplane, N106BK, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while in cruise flight near Santa Fe, Texas. The private pilot, the sole occupant of the homebuilt airplane, was not injured. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot under Title 14 CFR Part 91. The personal flight originated from Clover Field (T02) near Houston, Texas, at 1115. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed for the flight to Dickenson, Texas. According to the pilot, he was en route from Clover Field to the Volk Airport, near Dickenson, Texas. Approximately 7 miles from Volk Airport, "a rise in the cylinder head temperature of the number 1 cylinder" was observed. He attempted to control the temperature by "coming completely out of the throttle and then going back to full throttle." At 1,200 feet agl, the Rotax 503 engine "quit running". The pilot stated that he immediately "put the plane into the best glide rate" and landed the aircraft in a field "without problems." During the landing roll, the right wing struck a steel object which was obscured by weeds. Examination of the engine by the owner revealed that the loss of engine power was the result of engine overheating due to the failure of the fan belt to the engine cooling fan. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the right wing was "destroyed" which rendered the airplane "unrepairable." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N106BK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N106BK-1999-08-12), registration cancelled 1999-08-12, S/N 1626P (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Keith TEAM MINI MAX 1600R (TEAM MINI) - Registry model: [Keith Bobby MINI MAX 1600R](https://openairdocs.org/model/keith-bobby-mini-max-1600r) (registry code 056028P) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1676P - Airframe hours: 130 - Engines: Rotax 503 52 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Bobby W. Keith - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: T02, HOUSTON, TX - Destination: NONE, DICKENSON, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: center; flight hours: 1,200 total, 100 in this make and model, 1,200 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 5 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F ## 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 19980704015669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980704015669A), Jul 4, 1998: Amtr MINIMAX1600R, Santa Fe, TX, Substantial damage. Experimental crashed under unknown circimstances causing substantial damage. Santa Fe, TX. (.4)the pilot was en route when approximately 7 miles from his… 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.