# Accident 20131126022059A: Quad City Ultralight Acft Corp CHALLENGER II, Kalispell, MT, November 26, 2013

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 26, 2013, 09:45 local time
- Place: Kalispell, MT
- Airport: Kalispell City Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 48.1717° N, 114.2983° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1717&lon=-114.2983&mi=10
- Aircraft: N522PE, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N522PE) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Quad City Ultralight Acft CHALLENGER II (registry code 059010Q, https://openairdocs.org/model/quad-city-ultralight-acft-challenger-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 503 DCDI (registry code 55566, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-dcdi) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: QUAD CITY ULTRALIGHT ACFT CORP CHALLENGER II
- Reported engine: HIRTH 2706
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR14CA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA058) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20131126022059A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF TO THE SOUTH, AT ABOUT 200 FEET AGL, THE AIRCRAFT'S ENGINE FAILED TO LITTLE OR NO POWER DUE TO A SPARK PLUG EXITING THE AFT CYLINDER OF THE TWO CYLINDER ENGINE.  THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON A GRAVEL ROAD ADJACENT TO THE AIRPORT, BUT CONTACTED A FENCE POST WITH THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER.  THE PILOT STATED HE HAD SIGNIFICANT SUN GLARE ON THE PLEXIGLASS WINDSHIELD DURING THE LANDING ATTEMPT.  THE SPARKPLUG'S STEEL THREADS HAD PULLED THE CYLINDER HEAD'S MATING ALUMINUM THREADS.  THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE LANDING GEAR, FUSELAGE LONGERONS AND TAIL.  THE AIRCRAFT KIT MANUFACTURER AND OWNER'S ASSOCIATION HAVE A NOTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR ALL OWNER/OPERATORS THAT DISSEMINATES TECHNICAL SERVICE INFORMATION.  THE FAILURE OF PLUG THREADS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL OF HIRTH ENGINE.  THE PLUG'S THREAD BARREL IS NARROW AND HAS A SHORT REACH WHICH RESULTS IN LESS THREAD CONTACT.  THE MANUFACTURER NO LONGER OFFERS THE HIRTH ENGINE AS PART OF ITS KIT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR14CA058](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA058), Nov 26, 2013: Quad City Ultralight Acft Challenger II (N522PE), Kalispell, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to the spark plug coming out of the cylinder head.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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