N144AC is a 2006 Zenith Acft STOL CH 701. It is a fixed-wing single-engine aircraft with 2 seats. The registration is active, with the registrant based in Olean, MO. Its experimental airworthiness certificate was issued in Sep 2006. It has been registered to its current owner since Aug 2016. This page also carries 1 NTSB event.
- 20 years old
- 1 of 221 Zenith Acft STOL CH 701
2016
2006
That's everything on file so far — TailWiki checks the FAA registry daily and adds new entries as N144AC's record changes.
On March 22, 2010, at 1854 central daylight time, a Loehr Zenith STOL CH701 experimental airplane, N144AC, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from the Eldon Model Airpark (H79), Eldon, Missouri. The non-certificated pilot, who was the sole occupant and registered owner, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff at 300 feet above ground level (agl), the engine "revved excessively and power was lost to the propeller." The pilot performed an off airport forced landing. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted terrain and sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage.
Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that both engine to propeller drive belts failed which led to the reported engine overspeed and lack of propeller drive. The belts displayed missing drive lugs. The nut which retained the propeller pulley was found loose.
The pilot reported the airplane underwent its most recent conditional inspection on September 30, 2009. The airplane had accumulated 122 total hours.
According to the manufacturer of the engine to propeller drive system, Valley Engineering, L.L.C., the pilot had flown the airplane to their facility a couple months prior to the accident. Their inspection of the airplane revealed the drive belts were out of adjustment and needed servicing. During a telephone conversation between the NTSB investigator-in-charge and the manufacturer, the manufacturer reported that the belt failure during the accident was caused by loose belts or a lack of proper tension on the belts. The representative stated that belt tension should have been checked during a preflight inspection.
On the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1), Recommendation section, the pilot reported, "A more thorough look at belts from temperature change of extreme cold to warm."
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