# NTSB LAX00LA317: Steinke Early Bird -JENNY, N593JN, Chino, CA, August 26, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 26, 2000, 14:09 local (21:09 UTC) - Place: Chino, CA - Coordinates: 34.000022, -117.680633 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0000&lon=-117.6806&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 1, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50133 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA317 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50133/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA317 ## Probable cause The engine lost power for undetermined reasons and nosed over in a soft field during the resulting forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis The engine lost power during cruise flight at 1,800 feet msl and the airplane nosed over during an attempted forced landing in a field about 1/2 mile from the destination airport. Each fuel tank was at half capacity. Movement of the throttle valves inside the carburetors corresponded to movement of the throttle lever inside the cockpit. Operation of the primer button injected fuel into the carburetor intake body. The vacuum fuel pump was the primary feed for the engine. This pump could not be tested, as the engine could not be run. The electric fuel pump operated after vigorously cycling the master power switch several times between the on and off positions. The spark plugs were not wet with fuel or oil, and they exhibited characteristics of normal operation. ## Factual narrative On August 26, 2000, at 1409 hours Pacific daylight time, an experimental Steinke Early Bird-Jenny, N593JN, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing near Chino, California. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power during the approach to the Chino airport. The private pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and was not injured. The personal flight departed Rubideaux Airport, Riverside, California, about 1400. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot told the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) accident coordinator that the airplane ran well when he flew from Chino to Riverside. On the return to Chino, the engine lost power during cruise flight at 1,800 feet mean sea level (msl). He told the inspector he turned on an auxiliary electric fuel pump and utilized the primer, but the engine did not regain power. The airplane landed in a field about 1/2 mile from the runway and nosed over to an inverted position. The FAA coordinator inspected the airplane. Movement of the throttle valves inside the carburetors corresponded to movement of the throttle lever inside the cockpit. Each fuel tank was at half capacity. A mechanic operated the primer button and he observed fuel being injected into the carburetor intake body. He noted the vacuum fuel pump was the primary feed for the engine. This pump could not be tested, as the engine could not be run. He tested the electric fuel pump. This pump operated after he vigorously cycled the master power switch several times between the on and off positions. He observed that the spark plugs were not wet with fuel or oil. They exhibited characteristics of normal operation when compared to the Champion Aviation Check-A-Plug AV-27 Chart. ## 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 -JENNY (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: 113 - Airframe hours: 171 - Engines: Rotax 583 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Gary H. Steinke - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 11, 1999, 18 hours before - Departed: RIR, RIVERSIDE, CA - Destination: CNO, CA - Airport: CNO, Chino ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: rear; flight hours: 230 total, 153 in this make and model, 168 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 11 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 196 °F, dew point 135 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: CNO, 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 20000826012159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000826012159A), Aug 26, 2000: Amtr EARLYBIRDJNY, Chino, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot encountered loss of power, landed in a field two miles east of Chino Airport. Engine was examined, unable to determine exact cause. Owner stated,… ## 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 FTW95LA313](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW95LA313), Jul 23, 1995: Steinke Early Bird (N593JN), Akron, CO, substantial damage. 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… 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.