N9129F

On July 4, 1998, at 0910 central daylight time, a Brunnemer HMB-2, N9129F, piloted by a private pilot, received substantial damage when it impacted the terrain during a forced landing, following a loss of engine power during cruise flight, near Greenwood, Indiana. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal 14 CFR Part 91 flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight departed a private airstrip near Franklin, Indiana, at 0900, with the intended destination of Putnam County Airport, near Greencastle, Indiana.

According to the pilot's written statement, the pilot stated that approximately 10 minutes into the flight the engine loss complete power. The pilot was cruising at an approximate altitude of 700' above ground level (agl). The pilot completed a forced landing into a soybean field and upon touchdown the aircraft dug into the soft terrain. The front wheel contacted the terrain first, resulting in the aircraft to nose over and come to rest in an inverted position. The pilot stated that the area had received 1.5 inches of rain the night before, and that produced the 6 inches of mud that was present in the soybean field.

Post accident investigation showed that the ignition coil had broken. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector stated that the fatigue was attributed to operational vibrations. No other engine or aircraft anomalies were found.