Zenith Zodiac 601 HDS N511JG

Summary

On 17 October 2024 at about 19:15 local time, a Zenith Zodiac 601 HDS registered N511JG was involved in an accident near Altoona, Pennsylvania, 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

17 October 2024 at 19:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Altoona, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Altoona/Blair County (AOO)

Coordinates

40.2964, -78.3200

Aircraft

Zenith Zodiac 601 HDS

Registration

N511JG

Category

Airplane

Year built

2002

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA25LA030

Nobody was injured.

The total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation as a result of a deteriorated gascolator gasket. Contributing was the failure of the mechanic to replace the gasket during the most recent condition inspection.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Shortly after takeoff, as the airplane was climbing through 300 ft above ground level, the engine misfired, then suddenly stopped producing power. Unable to troubleshoot due to the low altitude, the pilot lowered the nose and attempted a forced landing on the remaining runway. The airplane landed hard, collapsing the landing gear and damaging the wings and airframe. Postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any engine anomalies; however, an examination of the fuel system revealed the fuel gascolator was installed partially outside of the engine compartment, exposing it to the air slipstream. The gascolator exhibited features consistent with a fuel leak. The gascolator bowl was not completely secure to the upper portion of the gascolator and it leaked fuel when touched by hand. The most recent engine maintenance was completed about 10 days before the accident and, although the fuel gascolator gasket was not mentioned in the logbook entry, a fuel system inspection was documented. The condition of the gasket would have warranted replacement. The gascolator bowl gasket was stiff and cracked, which likely allowed fuel to leak out during the flight, starving the engine of fuel. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation, which resulted in a loss of engine power and hard landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.