Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lapeer, Michigan 48446
Friday, August 3, 2007 10:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The flight made a forced landing following a loss of engine power. The pilot stated that about 7 minutes after takeoff while in cruise flight at 1,000 feet above ground level, the engine sputtered. He stated that he began a turn to return to the airport and as he turned about 90 degrees, the engine lost power completely. He said that he elected to land in a farm field and during the landing he struck trees at the approach end of the field. The pilot stated that he believed the engine failure was due to a blocked fuel vent on the main tank of the airplane. Subsequent examination of the airplane revealed no anomalies with regard to the airplane or its engine. The main fuel tank was found to be nearly full of fuel. The auxiliary fuel tank contained a small amount of fuel.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The fuel starvation for an undetermined reason, and the unsuitable terrain encountered during the forced landing. The trees were a factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/3/2007
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1030
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Lapeer
Event State MICHIGAN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 48446
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 430359N
Event Location Longitude 0831619W
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) 22223
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Aug 3 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Oct 31 2007 7:09AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Detroit, Michigan FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N5HB
NTSB Number CHI07CA255
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Buttles
Aircraft Model SNS-7
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 212
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 2
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 --
ELT Activated --
ELT Aided Location of Event Site --
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Garth Newton
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Memphis
Aircraft Owner State MI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
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 No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code D95
Departure City LAPEER
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1020
Departure Time Zone --
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 3BS
Destination City MIDLAND
Destination State MI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Cruise
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 11 2007 2:38PM
User who most recently changed record DINC
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --