CEN15LA020

Factual narrative

On October 9, 2014, about 1400 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Zenith Zodiak 601XL airplane, N601GK, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Richland Airport (93C), Richland Center, Wisconsin. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The flight originated from 93C approximately 1357. The pilot and flight instructor were practicing takeoffs and landings. During the fourth takeoff, the engine started to run rough and lose power. It then stopped producing power. During the forced landing to a field, the nose landing gear separated and the left main landing gear was damaged. The firewall was wrinkled and the left wing spar was bent. An examination of the airplane, conducted under the auspices of a Federal Aviation Administration inspector determined that the fuel system was intact, the connection at the electric fuel pump was impact damaged, and both wing fuel tanks contained fuel. The fuel screens were clean and the engine started and ran without issues for two to three minutes. There were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane or related systems that would have precluded normal operation. The temperature was 15 degrees Celsius (C) and the dew point temperature was minus 1 degree C. A review of the current carburetor icing chart established that the flight environment was conducive for carburetor icing at glide and cruise power settings. The pilot and flight instructor were practicing takeoffs and landings. During the fourth takeoff, the engine started running roughly and losing power; it then stopped producing power. They subsequently conducted a forced landing to a field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the nose landing gear. Both wing fuel tanks contained fuel. An examination of the airframe, engine, and related systems revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The temperature and dew point at the time of the accident were conducive to the accumulation of carburetor icing at glide and cruise power settings. Therefore, it is likely that carburetor ice accumulated during the landing and was present at takeoff, which resulted in the loss of engine power. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Temp/humidity/pressure-Conducive to carburetor icing-Effect on operation - C