Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mitchell, South Dakota 57301
Thursday, October 6, 2005 17:10 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane collided with rough terrain during an off airport forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot reported that the engine lost power as he was leveling off shortly after takeoff. The pilot stated that he switched fuel tanks, checked the magnetos and carburetor heat, and verified that the fuel pump was on, but he was not able to regain full power. The pilot reported that since he had "considerable altitude", he turned around to stay close to the airport. He stated that he initially thought he would be able to make it back to the airport until the rate of descent increased and he determined that he was not going to make it back to the airport. The pilot initially attempted to land on a highway, but because of traffic, he elected to land in a rough pasture. Post accident inspection of the airplane revealed that bolts used to attach an air filter bracket to the carburetor had penetrated the carburetor bowl. When the filter bracket and bolts were removed, fuel, pieces of metal, and silicone came out of two of the four bolt holes. The pilot purchased the airplane on the day of the accident. A review of the aircraft logbooks indicated an entry dated May 18, 1999, stated, "Replaced nose cowling and spinner to install Vans airfilter kit."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The mechanic's improper installation of the air filter assembly which resulted in foreign debris inside the carburetor. A factor associated with the accident was the rough terrain on which the airplane was landed.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/6/2005
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1710
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Mitchell
Event State SOUTH DAKOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 57301
Event Date Year 2005
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 434629N
Event Location Longitude 0980219W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport --
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions --
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 19877
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Oct 8 2005 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record May 18 2010 11:45AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Rapid City, SD FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N149KC
NTSB Number CHI06CA002
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Creed
Aircraft Model RV-4
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 696
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection --
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Unknown
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name G B Aerial Applications, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. Box 462
Aircraft Owner City Plains
Aircraft Owner State TX
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 79355
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Gregory L. Schultz
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Greenbush
Operator State MN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code MHE
Departure City Mitchell
Departure State SD
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code ROX
Destination City Roseau
Destination State MN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Landing - flare/touchdown
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 18 2010 11:45AM
User who most recently changed record johb
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --