# NTSB CEN13IA008: Mueller Michael Walter Challenger II CW SPC, N530MW, Sandwich, IL, October 7, 2012 - Type: NTSB incident investigation - Classification: Incident · No injuries · Incident investigation · Final report - Date: October 7, 2012, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Sandwich, IL - Coordinates: 41.63639, -88.639999 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.6364&lon=-88.6400&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 24, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 85274 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13IA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/85274/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85274 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13IA008 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to significant engine corrosion. Contributing to the accident was inadequate engine maintenance. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Mueller Michael Walter CHALLENGER II CW SPC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=05615S2), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md) - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Mueller Michael Walter CHALLENGER II CW SPC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=05615S2), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Mueller Michael Walter CHALLENGER II CW SPC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05615S2), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Mueller Michael Walter CHALLENGER II CW SPC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05615S2), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power after takeoff, and he subsequently executed a forced landing. Examination of the engine revealed that the power takeoff lower rod bearing had failed due to corrosion, damaging the piston and head. A low usage pattern for the engine combined with a failure to follow the engine manufacturer’s recommended preservation instructions led to significant corrosion in the engine. ## Factual narrative On October 7, 2012, about 1430 central daylight time, a Challenger II CW Experimental, N530MW, owned and operated by the pilot, sustained minor damage during a forced landing near Sandwich, Illinois. The certificated private pilot was not injured. The flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. According to pilot testimony, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power after initial takeoff from Woodlake Landing Airport (IS65). The pilot conducted a forced landing into a cornfield off the departure end of the runway. The airplane was equipped with a Rotax 503 engine, serial number M5555721. This 2-stroke, 2-cylinder in-line engine is utilized with experimental, uncertificated aircraft and is no longer in production. Examination of the engine revealed a failure of the power takeoff lower rod bearing due to corrosion. Debris from the lower rod bearing transferred through the transfer port to the top of the piston, damaging the piston and head. In addition, oil leaks around the cylinder head gasket were observed, as well as corrosion on two of the four cylinder head bolts, with one cylinder head bolt absent. The engine was operated infrequently, accumulating a total of 163 hours over a nine year period. The owner had recently purchased the airplane and operated the engine for approximately four hours. The Rotax operations manual directs short and long term engine preservation instructions and the maintenance schedule directs an engine overhaul at 300 hours or five years, whichever comes first. According to the mechanic who performed the examination, the engine overhaul and preservation instructions were not accomplished. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N530MW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N530MW), registered now, S/N CH11-0293-CW-0949, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MUELLER MICHAEL WALTER CHALLENGER II CW SPC - Registry model: [Mueller Michael Walter CHALLENGER II CW SPC](https://openairdocs.org/model/mueller-michael-walter-challenger-ii-cw-spc) (registry code 05615S2) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: CH11-0293-CW-0949 - Airframe hours: 163 - Engines: ROTAX 503 52 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Minor damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Donald F Myers, Jr. - Registered owner: Donald F Myers, Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 2, 2012, 10 hours before - Departed: IS65, Sandwich, IL - Destination: IS65, Sandwich, IL - Airport: IS65, Woodlake Landing/Sandwich ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: front; flight hours: 517 total, 5 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.17 inHg - Observed at: KARR, 11 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). - [Incident 20121007022829I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20121007022829I), Oct 7, 2012: Mueller Michael Walter CHALLENGER II CW SPC, Somonauk, IL, Minor damage. Pilot stated that just after take off the engine failed. The aircraft landed straight ahead in an open field. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 30, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=85274. 196 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 159 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388494&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Statement of teardown mechanic (item 2, .PDF, 38 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40388570&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20teardown%20mechanic-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.