# NTSB MIA00LA114: Mckinnis Steen Skybolt, N75CM, Tuscaloosa, AL, March 20, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 20, 2000, 15:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Tuscaloosa, AL - Coordinates: 33.170162, -87.620857 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.1702&lon=-87.6209&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 4, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 48828 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA00LA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/48828/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA00LA114 ## Probable cause a loss of engine power during climb due to fuel starvation which was caused by a fuel leak in the gascolator as a result of improper maintenance by the operator that resulted in the pilot making a forced landing during which the airplane sustained substantial damage. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, climb - fuel system,gascolator - loose (cause) - maintenance,installation - improper, company maintenance personnel (cause) - fuel system,gascolator - leak (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - berm ## Analysis The pilot said that he had landed at Tuscaloosa to refuel, and after departing the engine ceased operating without any warning. He executed an emergency landing, and the airplane incurred substantial damage during the landing. The pilot, also a certificated aircraft mechanic, further stated that he and the FAA inspector looked at the wreckage after the accident, and they discovered a massive fuel leak at the gascolator. The gascolator thumb nut had not been safety wired, and it had backed off, allowing fuel to pour out the top of the gascolator. The airplane had accumulated 10 hours since its last condition inspection, which the pilot said had been performed by the owner/operator. ## Factual narrative On March 20, 2000, about 1545 central standard time, a McKinnis Steen Skybolt, N75CM, registered to Alamo Aerobatics, and operated as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 business flight crashed on departure from Tuscaloosa Municipal Airport, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage, and the commercial-rated pilot and one passenger were not injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he was flying the airplane to sell it for the owner/operator, and he had landed at Tuscaloosa to refuel. After departing Tuscaloosa, about 4 miles east of the airport, at an altitude of 1,500 feet, the engine ceased operating without any warning. The pilot said that he then executed an emergency landing in a municipal construction landfill, during which he hit a berm, and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The pilot who is also a certificated aircraft mechanic, with an inspection authorization, further stated that he examined the wreckage the following day with an FAA inspector and they determined that the cause of the engine stoppage was due to a massive fuel leak at the gascolator. The gascolator thumb nut had not been safety wired, and it had backed off, allowing fuel to pour out the top of the gascolator unit. The airplane had accumulated 10 hours since its last condition inspection, which according to the pilot, had been performed by the owner/operator. According to the FAA inspector, after tightening the bolt and applying fuel boost pressure to the fuel strainer, no fuel leaks were noted. The inspector further stated that the fuel in the airplane's fuel tank, as well as the fuel in the truck at the last refueling stop were both examined, and no fuel contamination was found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N75CM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N75CM), registered now, S/N 1, built 1975 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mckinnis STEEN SKYBOLT (STEEN SKYB) - Registry model: [Mckinnis STEEN SKYBOLT](https://openairdocs.org/model/mckinnis-steen-skybolt) (registry code 0565570) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 - Airframe hours: 608 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1B 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Roddy Schmitz - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 27, 1999, 10 hours before - Departed: TCL - Destination: PLR, PELL CITY, AL - Airport: TCL, Tuscaloosa ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 10,000 total, 22 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: TCL, 4 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 20000320010409A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000320010409A), Mar 20, 2000: Amtr STEENSKYBOLT, Tuscaloosa, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) March 20, 2000, at approx. 3:40 pm, a steen skybolt (N75CM) made an emergency landing airport. The cause of the forced landing was due to partial power… 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.