# Accident 20241120019119A: Holtz Rodney R CHALLENGER II, Concord, NH, November 20, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: November 20, 2024, 10:53 local time
- Place: Concord, NH
- Airport: Concord Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.2027° N, 71.5023° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.2027&lon=-71.5023&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1666R, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1666R) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Holtz Rodney R CHALLENGER II (registry code 059041F, https://openairdocs.org/model/holtz-rodney-r-challenger-ii) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 503 DCDI (registry code 55566, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-dcdi) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HOLTZ RODNEY R CHALLENGER II
- Reported engine: ROTAX 503 DCDI
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,351 total, 8 in this make and model, 8 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA25LA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA063) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241120019119A

## Narrative

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

PILOT STATED THAT AFTER TAKEOFF HE PERFORMED A LEFT-HAND TURN AT APPROXIMATELY 1,000 FT ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. DURING THE TURN THE RIGHT-HAND MAIN ENTRANCE DOOR POPPED OPEN CAUSING NOISE AND BUFFETING IN CABIN. PILOT STATED HE ATTEMPTED TO CLOSE THE DOOR WHILE TRYING TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT. PILOT STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN LEVEL FLIGHT AND CONTINUED TO LOSE ALTITUDE WHILE IN A CONSTANT LEFT-HAND TURN AND UNABLE TO GET LINED UP ON THE RUNWAY TO PERFORM A SUCESSFUL LANDING. PILOT STATED THAT WHEN HE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15-20 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL HE REDUCED ENGINE POWER TO MINIMUM CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO STALL AND IMPACT THE GROUND IN A WINGS LEVEL ATTUTUDE AND COLLAPSE THE LANDING GEAR CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT NOSE STRUCTURE. NO INJURIES REPORTED.

PILOT STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE FLIGHT CONTROLS AND FAA IIC PERFORMED A FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY CHECK TO CONFIRM. PILOT STATED THAT HE MAY HAVE OVERCONTROLLED THE AIRCRAFT WHILE TRYING TO CLOSE THE DOOR.

## 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 ERA25LA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA063), Nov 20, 2024: Holtz Rodney R Challenger II (N1666R), Concord, NH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control and eventual stall/mush of the airplane while trying to secure an open door in flight.

## Other reports on N1666R (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Accident 20180723017829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180723017829A), Jul 23, 2018: Holtz Rodney R CHALLENGER II (N1666R), Oshkosh, WI, Substantial damage. Pilot was on landing approach and made wide turn to runway. Aircraft stalled hit the ground and spun until hitting a fence.

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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