Zilz ZENITH CH801 N143ZT

Summary

On 18 January 2006 at about 18:25 local time, a Zilz ZENITH CH801 registered N143ZT was involved in an accident near Moscow Mills, Missouri, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 January 2006 at 18:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Moscow Mills, Missouri, United States

Coordinates

38.9019, -90.9603

Aircraft

Zilz ZENITH CH801

Registration

N143ZT

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Moscow Mills → Moscow Mills

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI06LA069

Nobody was injured.

A loss of engine power due to inadequate design of the engine compartment which resulted in inadequate engine cooling and fuel starvation due to vapor lock. Factors associated with the accident were the utility pole and trees which were contacted during the landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The experimental amateur-built airplane contacted trees and a power pole during an off-airport forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot said the airplane was on its third flight since he finished building it. The purpose of the flight was to test and record engine performance at various power settings. He stated that during the flight the fuel pressure dropped below 2 pounds per square inch (psi) and the engine stopped running. He stated he was able to restart the engine, but it failed to produce power. The pilot turned toward the airport, but he did not have enough altitude to make it back, so he elected to land in a pasture with a row of trees bordering the edge of the field. The pilot stated he did not see the power lines above the trees until he was at an altitude, which was insufficient to clear the lines. He elected to fly through the tree line in order to avoid contacting the power lines. The airplane contacted a power line pole and trees prior to coming to rest in the field. Inspection of the engine and airplane failed to reveal any failure/malfunction which would have resulted in the loss of engine power. The pilot reported that he believes the loss of engine power was a result of vapor lock. He reported the gascolator is located near one of the exhaust pipes and that the loss of power occurred during a flight condition, which would have created reduced cooling through the engine cowling and increased exhaust temperatures.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.