# Accident 20250527007709A: West Desert Aviators RANS S-20 RAVEN, Fairfield, UT, May 27, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 27, 2025, 13:30 local time
- Place: Fairfield, UT
- Airport: West Desert Airpark
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 40.2428° N, 112.0922° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2428&lon=-112.0922&mi=10
- Aircraft: N327KM, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N327KM) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: West Desert Aviators RANS S-20 RAVEN (registry code 05641FP, https://openairdocs.org/model/west-desert-aviators-rans-s-20-raven) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 916 IS series (registry code 55622, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-916-is-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WEST DESERT AVIATORS RANS S-20 RAVEN
- Reported engine: ROTAX 916 IS
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Sport pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 700 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR25LA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA163) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250527007709A

## Narrative

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

ON MAY 27, 2025, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DEPARTED UT9 AT ~1937MST LEAVING NORTH ON THE RUNWAY.  THE PIC INITIATED A GRADUAL CLIMB HEADING EAST AND THEN SOUTH EAST OF THE AIRPORT.  AFTER ASCENDING TO ~700 FEET AGL, THE AIRCRAFT EXPERIENCED A POWER LOSS EVENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH A “GENERATOR ENTERED FAILESAFE EVENT (LANE NOT IN CONTROL)” MESSAGE.  DOWNLOADED ENGINE DATA SHOWS A DROP IN ENGINE RPM NOT ALIGNED WITH THROTTLE POSITION.  AS THE AIRCRAFT DESCENDED, THE PIC ATTEMPTED MULTIPLE RESTARTS WITHOUT SUCCESS.  AT ~200 FEET AGL, THE PIC CEASED ATTEMPTING TO START THE AIRCRAFT AND ASSESSED THE LANDING.  THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED TERRAIN AT A SLIGHTLY FORWARD ATTITUDE IN HEAVY BRUSH WHICH SEPARATED THE MAIN LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLIES AND CAUSED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FIREWALL BULKHEAD AFT OF THE ENGINE.  A LACK OF DAMAGE TO THE LEADING EDGE OF THE PROPELLOR BLADES CONFIRMS THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT UNDER ROTATION AT THE TIME OF IMPACT.  NTSB WILL BE CONDUCTING FURTHER INVESTIGATIONS OF THE OPERABILITY OF THE ROTAX 916IS ENGINE AND FUEL SUPPLY SYSTEMS AT A LATER DATE.  THIS REPORT WILL BE AMENDED AS INVESTIGATIONS CONTINUE AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS RELEVANT.

## 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 WPR25LA163](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA163), May 27, 2025: Rans S20 (N327KM), Fairfield, UT, substantial damage, investigation ongoing

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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