# NTSB MIA03LA123: Zenith 601HDS, N601G, Immokalee, FL, June 14, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 14, 2003, 13:20 local (17:20 UTC) - Place: Immokalee, FL - Coordinates: 26.433055, -81.400833 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.4331&lon=-81.4008&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57365 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA03LA123 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57365/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA03LA123 ## Probable cause Excessive rotor distributor shaft clearance that resulted in damage to the distributor rotor, a loss of ignition, the engine ceasing to operate. This resulted in a forced landing to unsuitable terrain and the airplane nosing over. ## 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, descent - normal - ignition system,distributor - loose part/bolt/nut/clamp/etc (cause) - ignition system,distributor - separation - ignition system - failure (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - muddy - terrain condition - none suitable ## Analysis The pilot/owner stated that he is the builder of the airplane, and was in cruise flight, at an altitude of 2,900 feet, operating on the flywheel-triggered ignition system, collecting performance data. He said he began a descent, and at 2,600 feet, about 5.6 miles from his destination, the engine suddenly ceased operating. He said he switched to the distributor ignition, observed normal fuel pressure and verified that there was adequate fuel in the header tank. He said he then communicated his emergency to air traffic control, and again attempted to restart the engine using the starter with both ignitions, but was unable to get the engine to start. He then made an approach to land in a field and during the landing rollout, the airplane flipped over due to the soft muddy soil, incurring substantial damage to the aircraft. The pilot/owner stated that after the accident he examined the airplane to determine the reason the engine had ceased to operate, and he found that the distributor rotor had failed due to excessive shaft clearance. He said that the excessive clearance had allowed the rotor to wobble in its rotation, and contact the pins within the cap, which had resulted in the metal contact at the top, separating from the plastic base. ## Factual narrative On June 14, 2003, about 1320 eastern daylight time, a Zenith 601HDS amateur-built airplane, N601G, registered to and operated by a private individual, as a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, had the engine cease operating while in flight in Immokalee, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The private-rated pilot received minor injuries and the airplane incurred substantial damage. The flight originated in Naples, Florida, the same day about 1300. The pilot/owner stated that he is the builder of the airplane, and was in cruise flight, at an altitude of 2,900 feet, operating on the flywheel-triggered ignition system, collecting performance data. He said he began a descent, and at 2,600 feet, about 5.6 miles from his destination, the engine suddenly ceased operating. He said he switched to the distributor ignition, observed normal fuel pressure and verified that there was adequate fuel in the header tank. He said he then communicated his emergency to air traffic control, and again attempted to restart the engine using the starter with both ignitions, but was unable to get the engine to start. He then made an approach to land in a field and during the landing rollout, the airplane flipped over due to the soft muddy soil, incurring substantial damage to the aircraft. The pilot/owner stated that after the accident he examined the airplane to determine the reason the engine had ceased to operate, and he found that the distributor rotor had failed due to excessive shaft clearance. He said that the excessive clearance had allowed the rotor to wobble in its rotation, and contact the pins within the cap, which had resulted in the metal contact at the top, separating from the plastic base. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N601G](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N601G-2008-07-09), registration cancelled 2008-07-09, S/N 6-3340, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Zenith 601HDS - Registry model: [Fetzer George R CH 601 HDS](https://openairdocs.org/model/fetzer-george-r-ch-601-hds) (registry code 05610ON) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Subaru ALL MDLS A/B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/subaru-all-mdls-a-b) (registry code 59050, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 6-3340 - Airframe hours: 175 - Engines: Subaru EA81 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: George R. Fetzer - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 8, 2003, 3 hours before - Departed: APF, Naples, FL - Destination: IMM, Immokalee, FL - Airport: APF, Immokalee ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 27, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 288 total, 178 in this make and model, 239 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 11 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: APF ## 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 20030614012159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030614012159A), Jun 14, 2003: Amtr CH601HDS, Immokalee, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft was enroute from naples municipal airport (apf) to Immokalee airport (imm), when the aircraft had an engine failure. The pilot identified two… 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.