# NTSB CEN11LA012: Newmann Edward W Challenger II, N61328, Easton, KS, October 8, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 8, 2010, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Easton, KS
- Coordinates: 39.344444, -95.116386 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.3444&lon=-95.1164&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report June 13, 2011
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 77538
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN11LA012
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/77538/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA012

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane for undetermined reasons.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Newmann Edward W CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05605T6), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Newmann Edward W CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05605T6), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000); cases with it: [Newmann Edward W CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=05605T6), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Newmann Edward W CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05605T6), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot and student-rated passenger departed the pilot’s property and remained airborne for about 10 minutes. The pilot expressed a concern about the wind and decided that they needed to return to the airfield. During the turn back to the airfield, the passenger felt like they were losing altitude and may have encountered a downdraft. The pilot told him to “hang on” and activated the airplane’s ballistic parachute. The passenger further stated that he was sure the engine was running, but he could not recall the impact sequence and he estimated the airplane was about 350 feet above ground level, when they started the turn. Examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of preimpact anomalies and fuel was present at the accident site. The right section of the stabilizer was located about 75 feet from the main wreckage. The stabilizer section did not have any impact marks on its tube framing and the fabric appeared in good condition. The two bolts that normally hold the section on were broken. Both bolts were sent to the Safety Board Material's Laboratory for examination. The Materials Laboratory noted that both bolts had signatures consistent with a bending overload event. The separation of the stabilizer section from the airframe prior to the loss of control could not be substantiated.

## Factual narrative

On October, 8, 2010, about 1330 central daylight time, a Challenger II, light-sport airplane, N61328, impacted terrain following a loss of control near Easton, Kansas. The student rated pilot was fatally injured, the sole passenger received serious injuries, and the aircraft was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and the personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The flight originated from a private airfield around 1300. There were no reported witnesses to the accident. A passer-by noticed the wreckage near a rural road, heard the passenger’s call for help, and notified authorities. In an interview conducted by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the passenger stated that they departed the pilot’s property around 1300-1330, and was only airborne for about 10 minutes. The passenger added that the pilot expressed a concern about the wind and decided they needed to return to the airfield. During the turn back to the airfield, the passenger felt like they were losing altitude and may have encountered a downdraft. The pilot suddenly told him to “hang on” and activated the airplane’s parachute. The passenger further stated that he was sure the engine was running, but he could not recall the impact sequence and he estimated the airplane was about 350 feet above ground level, when they started the turn. The responding FAA inspector reported that the airplane impacted the tops of several trees before coming to rest at the base of the trees. The aircraft was equipped with a ballistic parachute system, and the parachute was entangled with the tops of the trees. The inspector also reported that the fuel tank was about half-full of fuel. The inspector added that a part of the tail section was located about 75 feet from the main wreckage. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the parachute had deployed; however, it appeared that the chute was not fully opened prior to the airplane impact with the ground. The airplane’s control cables/rods appeared intact and connected. The engine would rotate by hand, and appeared normal. A visual inspection of the drive belts, throttle cable, and carburetors did not reveal any discrepancies. The right section of the stabilizer/elevator, located away from the wreckage did not have any impact marks on its tube framing, and the fabric appeared in good shape. Two bolts holding the section on were broken, and were removed for further examination. Both bolts were sent to the Safety Board Materials Laboratory in Washington, D.C., for examination. The Materials Laboratory factual report noted that both bolts had “bending and a cupped fracture face, consistent with a bending overload event”. The pilot’s flight log and airplane maintenance records were not located in the course of this investigation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N61328](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61328-2015-05-20), registration cancelled 2015-05-20, S/N CH20190W05103, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NEWMANN EDWARD W CHALLENGER II
- Registry model: [Newmann Edward W CHALLENGER II](https://openairdocs.org/model/newmann-edward-w-challenger-ii) (registry code 05605T6) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: CH20190W05103
- Engines: BOMBARDIER ROTAX 503 50 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: Leavenworth, KS
- Destination: Leavenworth, KS
- Flight plan: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; injuries: fatal; student; medical: class 2, unknown; seat: front; toxicology performed

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observed at: KMCI, 20 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 20101008049329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20101008049329A), Oct 8, 2010: Newmann Edw CHALLENGER, Easton, KS, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. The uncertificated pilot, ronald ward, was sitting in the front seat, and a passenger, [privacy data omitted], was seated in the rear seat of the aircraft.…

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.

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