# NTSB GAA15CA024: David Shell Zenith CH701, N701VZ, Fairfield, UT, March 27, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 27, 2015, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Fairfield, UT - Coordinates: 40.09, -112.120002 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0900&lon=-112.1200&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 1, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 90952 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA024 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/90952/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90952 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA024 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a precautionary off airport landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [David Shell ZENITH CH701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05631PB), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [David Shell ZENITH CH701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05631PB), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Wind: dust devil/whirlwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation; cases with it: [David Shell ZENITH CH701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060/cases.md?model=05631PB), [All aircraft, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034060/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 control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [David Shell ZENITH CH701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05631PB), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [David Shell ZENITH CH701, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05631PB), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated he thought he smelled smoke in the cockpit while en route to his destination. During a precautionary landing on a dirt road, the pilot stated he encountered a "dust devil" as the airplane touched down, and the airplane veered into a ditch. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. Winds in the area were reported light and variable. The pilot holds a repairman certificate for the airplane; he reported a post-accident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have resulted in abnormal operation of the airplane. He did not find anything related to the smell of the smoke. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated he thought he smelled smoke in the cockpit while en route to his destination. During a precautionary landing on a dirt road, the pilot stated he encountered a "dust devil" as the airplane touched down, and the airplane veered into a ditch. The aircraft sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. Winds in the area were reported light and variable. The pilot holds a repairman certificate for the airplane; he reported a post-accident examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have resulted in abnormal operation of the airplane. He did not find anything related to the smell of the smoke. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N701VZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N701VZ-2016-02-12), registration cancelled 2016-02-12, S/N 7-6687, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DAVID SHELL ZENITH CH701 - Registry model: [David Shell ZENITH CH701](https://openairdocs.org/model/david-shell-zenith-ch701) (registry code 05631PB) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 7-6687 - Year built: 2012 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Zenith AFTV LLC - Registered owner: Zenith AFTV LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 27, 2014 - Departed: UT99, CEDAR VALLEY, UT - Destination: Delle, UT - Airport: UT99, West Desert Airpark - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 23, 2013; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 464 total, 165 in this make and model, 403 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 15 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: KPVU, 20 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 20150327003219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150327003219A), Mar 27, 2015: David Shell ZENITH CH701, Fairfield, UT, Substantial damage. Pilot was on a pleasure flight (no flight plan) and was returning from delle Utah towards Fairfield (west desert airpark UT99), the pilot thought he smelled… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 26, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=90952. 820 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 704 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426740&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Left Wing and Aileron (Photo Courtesy of Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426741&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Left%20Wing%20and%20Aileron%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Right Fuselage (Photo Courtesy of Pilot) (item 3, .PDF, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426742&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Right%20Fuselage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-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.