# NTSB MIA90LA075: Zimmerman Varieze, N16CS, Brooksville, FL, March 2, 1990

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: March 2, 1990, 13:50 local (18:50 UTC)
- Place: Brooksville, FL
- Location: 28.4735° N, 82.4561° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at BROOKSVILLE-TAMPA BAY RGNL (BKV), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.4735&lon=-82.4561&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 2 minor
- Status: Completed, report September 4, 1992
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 32627
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA90LA075
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/32627/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA90LA075

## Probable cause

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR UNDETERMINED REASONS DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause)
  - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions
  - carburetor heat - not used, pilot in command
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command

## Analysis

THE PLT STATED THE FUEL TANKS WERE TOPPED OFF 4 DAYS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT & THE ACFT WAS HANGARED & NOT FLOWN UNTIL A 45 MINUTE FLT EARLIER THAT DAY. BEFORE DEPARTING ON THE RETURN FLT, HE PERFORMED A PREFLT INSPN & ENG RUN-UP OF THE ACFT & NOTED NO CONTAMINANTS IN THE FUEL SYSTEM OR ENG MALFUNCTION. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AT AN ALT OF 300 FT, THE ENG BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH, THEN QUIT. DURING A FORCED LANDING, THE ACFT NOSED OVER AFTER TOUCHING DOWN IN A FIELD. ONE OF THE FUEL TANKS WAS DAMAGED, BUT THERE WAS NO FIRE. THE OTHER FUEL TANK WAS CHECKED FOR CONTAMINATION, NONE WAS FOUND. EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED NO EVIDENCE OF CATASTROPHIC FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE REPORTED TEMP WAS 77 & THE DEW POINT 62, WHICH WAS IN THE 'SERIOUS ICING-GLIDE POWER' RANGE OF THE CARB ICING PROBABILITY CHART.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N16CS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N16CS-1993-12-13), registration cancelled 1993-12-13, S/N 2078 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ZIMMERMAN VARIEZE
- Registry model: [Zimmerman Michael H VARIEZE](https://openairdocs.org/model/zimmerman-michael-h-varieze) (registry code 056094X) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 2078
- Airframe hours: 480
- Engines: CONTINENTAL O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Culpepper, David G.
- Registered owner: Culpepper, David G
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 8, 1989, 108 hours before
- Destination: SFB, SANFORD, FL
- Airport: BKV, Hornando County, runway 20, 5,000 × 150 ft, dirt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 22; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 257 total, 33 in this make and model, 179 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 200° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 23,000 ft overcast
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: TPA, 30 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 19900302003019A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19900302003019A), Mar 2, 1990: Amtrru VARIEZE, Brooksville, FL, Substantial damage. Reported engine quit on takeoff climb. Nosed over landing in a field.

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.

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