# Accident 20180521005729A: M-Squared Aircraft SPRINT 1000, Gurdon, AR, May 21, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 21, 2018, 19:15 local time
- Place: Gurdon, AR
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Climb
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.9231° N, 93.1572° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9231&lon=-93.1572&mi=10
- Aircraft: N138ZX, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N138ZX) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: M-Squared SPRINT 1000 (registry code 05904V1, https://openairdocs.org/model/m-squared-sprint-1000) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 618 (registry code 55578, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-618) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: M-SQUARED AIRCRAFT SPRINT 1000
- Reported engine: ROTAX 618
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Sport pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 500 total, 300 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN18LA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA189) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180521005729A

## Narrative

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

ON MAY 21, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 1915 CDT, N138ZX A M-SQUARED, SPRINT 1000 EXPERIMENTAL OPERATING AS LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT, REGISTERED TO STEPHEN C. PENNINGTON AND OPERATED BY A SPORT PILOT, FOR RECREATIONAL PURPOSES, EXPERIENCED AN INFLIGHT ENGINE FAILURE. AFTER TAKEOFF FROM GURDON LOWE FIELD (5M8), GURDON, AR RUNWAY 26. AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT TURNED LEFT AND STARTED TO CLIMB.  AT APPROXIMATELY 800 FEET THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STOPPED. AT APPROXIMATELY 200 FEET, THE PILOT ELECTED TO DEPLOY THE BALLISTIC RECOVERY SYSTEM (BRS) AND THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE FORWARD AND AFT TUBULAR FRAME.  THE PILOT AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. ROTAX TO COMPLETE AN ENGINE TEAR DOWN SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE.

## 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 CEN18LA189](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA189), May 22, 2018: M-Squared Sprint 1000 (N138ZX), Gurdon, AR, substantial damage. Probable cause: Inadequate engine maintenance, which resulted in the failure of the MAG piston ring and the subsequent total loss of engine power due to a piston seizure.

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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