# NTSB CEN13LA514: Challenger II, Emporia, KS, August 28, 2013

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 28, 2013, 11:30 local (16:30 UTC)
- Place: Emporia, KS
- Coordinates: 38.415279, -96.18972 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.4153&lon=-96.1897&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report April 23, 2014
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 87911
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA514
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87911/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87911
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA514

## Probable cause

The right wing’s folding up in flight for reasons that could not be determined because an examination did not reveal any abnormalities with the airframe that would have precluded normal operation.

## Findings

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

- [Wing structure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035700): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01035700/cases.md)
- [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [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.

- [Enroute-cruise: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 290 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Aircraft structural failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337); cases with it: [All aircraft, 290 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/337/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was ferrying the experimental, amateur-built airplane back to his home airport. As he approached an en route airport, part of the right wing folded up, and the airplane spiraled down. The airplane impacted trees and came to rest near a creek. The airplane did not have an airworthiness certificate or registration number. Examination of the wreckage revealed no preexisting damage that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not have any of the airplane's previous records; the reason for the right wing folding could not be determined.

## Factual narrative

On August 28, 2013, about 1130, central daylight time, an unregistered, light sport Challenger II airplane, impacted trees and terrain near the Emporia Municipal Airport (KEMP), Emporia, Kansas. The airline transport rated pilot, sole occupant, received minor injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was owned and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed Herington Regional Airport (KHRU) at an unknown time and was en route to Joplin, Missouri. According to the pilot, he had just purchased the airplane and was in process of flying the airplane back to his home airfield. As he approached KEMP, part of the right wing folded up, and the airplane descended in a spiral. The airplane impacted trees and came to rest near a creek. The pilot reported that the engine was still running and was able to exit the airplane to get help. The airplane's experimental-amateur built data plate annotated the airplane as a Challenger II UL trainer, serial number CH2-0600-R-1983, with a date of manufacture of 06/02/2002 and listed an individual builder. The data plate also listed the empty weight as 358 lbs and an 800 lbs gross weight. There was no record of an experimental-light sport airworthiness certificate, or aircraft registration in accordance with the Light Sport Aircraft rule, that was effective January 2008. The accident pilot added that he did not have any of the airplane's previous owner records. The airplane was recovered to the Emporia airport, where inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration, examined the airplane. The inspectors examined the fractured airframe's tubing. They reported that all of the fractured surfaced indicated static overload. The inspectors were unable to find any fatigue cracks or anomalies with the airframe that would account for the wing failure

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CHALLENGER II
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: CH2-0600-R-1983
- Engines: Rotax 503 reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: None
- Departed: KHRU, Herington, KS
- Destination: Joplin, MO
- Flight plan: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 82; injuries: minor; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 8,104 total, 1 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 4,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observed at: KEMP

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 5, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87911. 5.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40409583&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Memo (item 2, .PDF, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40409605&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memo-Master.PDF
- Weather Reports and Records (item 3, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40409584&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF
- Other Pertinent Forms and Reports (Data plate) (item 4, .PDF, 445 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40409587&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports%20%20(Data%20plate)-Redacted.PDF
- Photo: Accident airplane (non NTSB photo) (item 5, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40409585&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20Accident%20airplane%20%20%20%20%20%20(non%20NTSB%20photo)-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.

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