# NTSB SEA07LA252: Kearney Pulsar XP, N137GK, Cottonwood, AZ, September 4, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 3, 2007, 18:30 local (Sep 4, 2007, 01:30 UTC) - Place: Cottonwood, AZ - Coordinates: 34.729999, -112.035278 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.7300&lon=-112.0353&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO, Kodiak Research Ltd. - NTSB case key (mKey): 66612 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07LA252 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66612/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA252 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## 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) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ditch - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the airplane was climbing through 300 feet with an airspeed of about 80 mph, when the engine began to run "very rough" and lose power. The power decayed to idle, although the engine continued to run. The pilot executed a forced landing straight ahead, and during the ground roll, the airplane encountered a ditch. The canopy separated, both main landing gear struts were broken, and the fuselage sustained structural damage. During post-accident examination of the airplane, the engine was started and run at idle power. The left and right ignition systems were checked. No discrepancies were noted. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined. ## Factual narrative On September 3, 2007, about 1830 mountain standard time, a Kearney Pulsar XP, N137GK, encountered a ditch during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during the takeoff initial climb from runway 14 at Cottonwood Airport, Cottonwood, Arizona. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The pilot was operating the airplane as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the planned local flight. According to the pilot, the airplane was climbing through 300 feet with an airspeed of about 80 mph, when the engine began to run "very rough" and lose power. The power decayed to idle, although the engine continued to run. The pilot executed a forced landing straight ahead, and during the ground roll, the airplane encountered a ditch. The canopy separated and both main landing gear struts were broken. Oil was dripping from the lower cowling and from inside of the left exhaust. The airplane's belly, left gear strut and left wing root were covered in oil. On November 13, 2007, the airplane was examined under the supervision of the NTSB investigator-in-charge at the facilities of Air Transport in Phoenix, Arizona. The wings had been removed from the airplane by recovery personnel. Cracks were noted in the fiberglass structure of the right wing root rib and in the fuselage floor at the right landing gear attach point. The engine mount was bent, and all three propeller blades had separated from the hub. The coolant tank was found empty, and the oil tank contained oil at a level on the dipstick below the stick markings. Both carburetor bowls were removed, and residual automotive fuel was found in the bowls. No water was noted; however, there were brown particles floating in the fuel. The carburetor bowls were reinstalled. The damaged propeller was removed from the engine, and a fuel supply was attached to the left fuel line at the wing root. Using the aircraft electrical system, the fuel boost pump was energized and fuel flowed to the engine. The engine was started and run at idle power. The left and right ignition systems were checked. No discrepancies were noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N137GK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N137GK-2011-10-31), registration cancelled 2011-10-31, S/N 466, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Kearney Pulsar XP - Registry model: [Kearney Donald J PULSAR XP](https://openairdocs.org/model/kearney-donald-j-pulsar-xp) (registry code 05607GY) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 466 - Airframe hours: 236 - Engines: Rotax 912UL 95 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 1, 2007 - Departed: P52, Cottonwood, AZ - Destination: P52 - Airport: P52, Cottonwood, runway 14, 4,250 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2007; seat: left; flight hours: 12,700 total, 70 in this make and model, 11,000 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F ## 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 20070903021389A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070903021389A), Sep 3, 2007: Amtr PULSARXP, Cottonwood, AZ, Destroyed. (-23) On departure climbout from the airport the engine experienced a rapid loss of power due to an oil leak. The pilot elected to land straight ahead, alit on… 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.