Bennett Ra Oliver ZODIAC CH 601 HDS N2521B

Summary

On 26 February 2005 at about 20:40 local time, a Bennett Ra Oliver ZODIAC CH 601 HDS registered N2521B was involved in an accident near Mt. Olive, North Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 February 2005 at 20:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Mt. Olive, North Carolina, United States

Nearest airport

Mount Olive (PVT)

Coordinates

35.2258, -78.0408

Aircraft

Bennett Ra Oliver ZODIAC CH 601 HDS

Registration

N2521B

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Mt. Olive → Mount Olive

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL05CA053

1 person was seriously injured.

Rupture of the engine's cooling system radiator, which allowed steam to fill the cockpit.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot and the owner, shortly after takeoff the engine coolant radiator burst filling the cockpit with what he thought was smoke, The pilot stated that visibility quickly went to zero and he attempted to release the cockpit canopy to clear the smoke but collided with trees before he could get it open. The wings and under carriage were damaged. Examination of the airplane found that the engine coolant radiator tank failed at the forward belly of the airplane. There was no evidence of a fire.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.