# Accident 20190611006629A: Griff Richard CHALLENGER II, Switz City, IN, June 11, 2019

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 11, 2019, 18:14 local time
- Place: Switz City, IN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 39.0647° N, 87.0533° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0647&lon=-87.0533&mi=10
- Aircraft: N582L, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N582L) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Griff Richard CHALLENGER II (registry code 056294O, https://openairdocs.org/model/griff-richard-challenger-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 582SER (registry code 55556, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GRIFF RICHARD CHALLENGER II
- Reported engine: ROTAX 582SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Student
- Pilot flight hours: 125 total, 75 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN19LA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA163) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190611006629A

## Narrative

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

ON JUNE 11, 2019, AT APPROXIMATELY 1800HRS CDT, N582L, A CHALLENGER II EXPERIMENTAL / AMATEUR BUILT AIRPLANE, IMPACTED TERRAIN AFTER A LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. THE ACCIDENT SITE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES WEST- NORTH WEST OF SHAWNEE FIELD (1I3). THE AIRCRAFT WAS BEING OPERATED BY THE OWNER (A STUDENT PILOT) UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR 91. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. THE PILOT SUFFERED SERIOUS INJURIES.

POST-ACCIDENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST IN A LEVEL FIELD APPROXIMATELY 900 FEET SOUTH OF CO RD 300 N AND 600 W SWITZ CITY, IN. FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWED THE AIRCRAFT CONTROLS WERE INTACT. THERE WAS FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THERE WAS FUEL PRESENT AT BOTH CARBURETORS. THE OIL INJECTION TANK WAS ¾ FULL.  THE PROPELLER AND PROPELLER DRIVE WAS INTACT. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE PROPELLER BLADES, CONSISTENT WITH ENGINE STOPPAGE. CAUSE FOR ENGINE FAILURE IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME.

THE PILOT STATES THAT DURING A PROFICIENCY FLIGHT THE ENGINE SUDDENLY QUIT RUNNING. THE PILOT FOLLOWED THE ENGINE FAILURE CHECKLIST. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, IT WOULD NOT TURN OVER AS IF IT WERE SEIZED. AT THIS POINT, HE PREPARED FOR A ?DEAD STICK? OFF-FIELD LANDING IN A LEVEL, BARREN, FARM FIELD. THE STUDENT PILOT MISJUDGED THE INTENDED TOUCHDOWN POINT, SUBSEQUENTLY HE TOUCHED DOWN 20 FEET PERPENDICULAR FROM A RAISED ROADBED. AS THE AIRCRAFT TRANSITIONED THE ROAD, THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED. UPON CROSSING THE ROAD, THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT PLOWED INTO THE SOFT DIRT FLIPPING THE AIRCRAFT OVER ONTO ITS BACK. THE PILOT SUFFERED A BROKEN LEFT FEMUR.

THE NTSB, A REPRESENTATIVE FOR ROTAX ENGINES, AND A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE FAA ARE SCHEDULED TO PERFORM A DIAGNOSTIC ENGINE TEARDOWN ON JULY 19TH, 2019. THIS REPORT MAY BE AMENDED FOLLOWING THE OUTCOME OF THE ENGINE INSPECTION.

## 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 CEN19LA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA163), Jun 11, 2019: Griff Challenger (N582L), Switz City, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power due to failure of a connecting rod bearing. Contributing to the engine failure was the lack of an engine overhaul within the prescribed interval.

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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