Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Chapin, South Carolina 29036
Tuesady, October 3, 2000 8:15 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

Shortly after takeoff, the pilot initiated a fuel management procedure that resulted in the transfer of fuel to the main tanks. As the airplane climbed through 3000 feet, the engine lost power and subsequently quit. The pilot selected a pasture for an emergency landing. During the final approach to land, the airplane collided with a stand of trees short of the pasture. The post-crash examination of the fuel system showed that the fuel tanks were ruptured and the exact amount of fuel at the time of the accident was not determined. Examination of the engine also failed to disclose a mechanical malfunction. A successful functional run of the engine was accomplished.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor was the trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/3/2000
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 815
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City CHAPIN
Event State SOUTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 29036
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1050 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID CAE
Elevation of weather observation facility 236
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 38
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 16
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) 1392
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 489
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Oct 3 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1130
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Apr 9 2001 8:54AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N98GG
NTSB Number ATL01LA004
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Joseph A. Grimaud
Aircraft Model SEAWIND 3000
Aircraft Series Identifier SEAWIND 30
Aircraft Serial Number 18
Certified Max Gross Weight 3400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 9 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 28
Airframe Hours 59
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GRIMAUD ENTERPRISES
Aircraft Owner Street Address 804 OLD FORGE RD.
Aircraft Owner City CHAPIN
Aircraft Owner State SC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 29036
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JOSEPH A. GRIMAUD JR.
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 804 OLD FORGE RD.
Operator City CHAPIN
Operator State SC
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 29036
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code NONE
Departure City LAKE MURRAY
Departure State SC
Departure Country
Departure Time 800
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 06A
Destination City TUSKEGEE
Destination State AL
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Apr 9 2001 8:54AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --