Sioux Gateway /Col. Bud Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sioux City, Iowa 51111
Monday, May 30, 2011 8:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The airplane sustained a partial loss of engine power while maneuvering at 7,500 feet mean sea level about 10 miles from the departure airport. The pilot then elected to return to the departure airport for a precautionary landing. While en route, he smelled fuel and shut the fuel selector off. He executed a landing to a field after he realized that the glidepath would not reach the runway. The pilot stated that he did not install the gascolator gasket properly during his last condition inspection of the airplane, which resulted in air entering the fuel system and a subsequent partial loss of engine power.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper installation of the gascolator gasket during the airplane's last condition inspection, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power while maneuvering.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/30/2011
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 800
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Sioux City
Event State IOWA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 51111
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 422416N
Event Location Longitude 0962306W
Event Location Airport Sioux Gateway Airport/Col. Bud
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SUX
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1098
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 730 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID SUX
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 22
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.54
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29621
NTSB Notification Source FAA-ACE-ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 3 2012 12:08PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N204TJ
NTSB Number CEN11LA367
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Jones
Aircraft Model Cozy Mark IV
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 204
Certified Max Gross Weight 2250
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection May 3 2011 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 1763
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Pilot
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Jefferson
Aircraft Owner State SD
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Pilot
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Jefferson
Operator State SD
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 SUX
Departure City Sioux City
Departure State IA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 730
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code SUX
Destination City Sioux City
Destination State IA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 19 2011 1:33PM
User who most recently changed record galm
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --