# Accident 20210905015389A: John Knapp MURPHY RENEGADE 11, Sheridan, IL, September 5, 2021

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 5, 2021, 13:38 local time
- Place: Sheridan, IL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.5366° N, 88.6206° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5366&lon=-88.6206&mi=10
- Aircraft: N490DJ, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N490DJ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: John Knapp MURPHY RENEGADE 11 (registry code 05632PO, https://openairdocs.org/model/john-knapp-murphy-renegade-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: JOHN KNAPP MURPHY RENEGADE 11
- Reported engine: ROTAX 670
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN21LA402](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA402) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210905015389A

## Narrative

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

THE PIC WAS CONDUCTING A FAST TAXI TEST  ON THE AIRCRAFT AT CUSHING FIELD, IL (0C8)AND DID NOT INTEND TO FLY AT THE TIME.  DURING THE TEST, THE TAIL OF THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE AND THE PIC ELECTED TO CONTINUE THE TAKEOFF RATHER THAN ATTEMPT TO STOP.  ON DEPARTURE CLIMB AT 500' AGL, THE PIC STATED THE ENGINE QUIT.  THE PIC ATTEMPTED A RESTART WITHOUT SUCCESS.  THE PIC THEN ELECTED TO ACCOMPLISH AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A SOYBEAN FIELD.  DURING THE LANDING, THE AIRCRAFT BECAME TANGLED IN THE VEGETATION AND FLIPPED TAIL OVER NOSE , COMING TO REST UPSIDE DOWN ON THE UPPER WING SURFACE.

ONSITE INSPECTION (N490DJ) ? AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE FOUND IN AIRCRAFT, EXPERIMENTAL OPERATING AMATEUR-BUILT AIRCRAFT BUILDER^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^SERIAL NO. 0028. AIRCRAFT DATA TAG LOCATED INSIDE CREW AREA MODEL: MURPHY RENEGADE 11 WITH ROTAX 600. NO REGISTRATION DOCUMENT COULD BE LOCATED. EXTERNAL FUSELAGE INSPECTION SHOWED MINIMAL DAMAGE EXCEPT FOR THE L/H LANDING GEAR WHEEL WAS BROKEN AWAY FROM THE AIRCRAFT. CONTINUITY CHECK WAS PERFORMED FOR ALL FLIGHT AND ENGINE CONTROLS, NO DISCREPANCIES WERE NOTED. NTSB REMOVED SPARK PLUGS FOR INSPECTION. AFT PLUG SHOWED EVIDENCE OF DAMAGE. EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS THEN UNBOLTED FROM THE ENGINE FOR FURTHER PISTON INSPECTION. BOTH FWD AND AFT PISTONS SIDE WALLS COULD BE SEEN WITH DAMAGE NOTED TO THE AFT PISTON?S SIDE WALL/RINGS AND UPPER SERVICE. CYLINDERS WERE REMOVED FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND MORE DAMAGE WAS NOTED TO THE ENTIRE COMBUSTION SURFACE OF THE AFT PISTON. WITH CYLINDERS REMOVED IT WAS NOTED THAT THE LOWER CROSSBAR OF THE ENGINE MOUNT HAD BROKEN AT THE PLACE OF A PREVIOUS WELD.

## 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 CEN21LA402](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA402), Sep 5, 2021: Murphy Renegade II (N490DJ), Sheridan, IL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power during initial climb 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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