# NTSB WPR17LA194: Paul Gaywood E CH 601 HD, N9066F, Goldendale, WA, August 26, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 26, 2017, 08:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Goldendale, WA - Coordinates: 45.831943, -120.84527 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8319&lon=-120.8453&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 95928 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR17LA194 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95928/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95928 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR17LA194 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Paul Gaywood E CH 601 HD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=0561005), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Paul Gaywood E CH 601 HD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=0561005), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Paul Gaywood E CH 601 HD, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=0561005), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The day before the accident, the pilot identified contaminated fuel. He de-fueled the airplane, refueled it with 100 low-lead aviation fuel, and then extensively ground run the engine with no issues noted. The day of the accident, he performed another ground run, shut down the engine and checked for leaks, and then prepared for the accident flight. About 75 ft above ground level during the initial climb, the engine lost total power. The pilot performed a forced landing to rocky, uneven terrain, during which the left wing sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane and engine and did not find any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available information. ## Factual narrative On August 26, 2017, at 0815 Pacific daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built CH601 HD airplane, N9066F, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Goldendale, Washington. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that the day before the accident, he had found “bad” fuel, and he subsequently drained all the fuel from the airplane and refueled it. He then performed extensive ground runs of the engine and believed that the issue was resolved. On the day of the accident, he checked the fuel for water twice, but no water was present when he sumped the gascolator. He performed a ground run with no discrepancies, shut down the engine and checked for leaks; there were none. Following an engine run-up that revealed no anomalies, he initiated a takeoff, and about 75 ft above the ground, the engine lost total power. The pilot performed a forced landing to an area of rocky, uneven terrain, during which the left wing sustained substantial damage. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane and engine and did not find any mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9066F](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9066F-2022-07-30), registration cancelled 2022-07-30, S/N 6-4188, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PAUL GAYWOOD E CH 601 HD (HD) - Registry model: [Paul Gaywood E CH 601 HD](https://openairdocs.org/model/paul-gaywood-e-ch-601-hd) (registry code 0561005) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 6-4188 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 226 - Engines: CONT MOTOR O-200-A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 5, 2016, 2 hours before - Airport: S20, Goldendale ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 78; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 16, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,743 total, 272 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 120° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: KDLS, 19 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 20170826010489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170826010489A), Aug 26, 2017: Paul Gaywood E CH 601 HD, Goldendale, WA, Substantial damage. 08/26/2017: On take off N9066F experienced an engine failure causing pilot to land aircraft in a field near Goldendale Airport (520). The aircraft suffered… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 8, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95928. 2.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12236951&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR17LA194%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12237017&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=GPaul%20RoC%20WPR17LA194-Rel.pdf - Summary of findings (NTSB) (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 119 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12237863&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Summary%20of%20Findings%20(NTSB)-Rel.pdf - Summary of findings (FAA inspector) (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12339847&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Summary%20of%20Findings%20(NTSB)-Rel.pdf 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.