# NTSB CEN14LA066: Quad City Challenger I, Winsted, MN, November 12, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 12, 2013, 12:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Winsted, MN - Coordinates: 44.960414, -94.039299 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9604&lon=-94.0393&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 23, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA -- Minneapolis Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 88456 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA066 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88456/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88456 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA066 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering for a precautionary landing after the light sport airplane started vibrating, which led to an inadvertent aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/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 reported that, as he reduced engine power during the initial climb after takeoff, he felt the light sport airplane vibrate. He further reduced engine power, but this action did not eliminate the vibration. He initially planned to attempt to land the airplane on the runway; however, it was not positioned properly. He subsequently attempted to land in an adjacent field. During the landing attempt, the airplane began to lose airspeed, and it then stalled and impacted the field. A postaccident examination of the engine and flight control system did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The source of the reported vibration could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On November 12, 2013, about 1200 central standard time, an unregistered Quad City Challenger I experimental light sport airplane, impacted terrain while returning for landing at the Winsted Municipal Airport (10D), Winsted, Minnesota. The pilot was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported that the preflight inspection, run-up, and takeoff were normal. As he reduced engine power during the initial climb after takeoff, he felt a vibration that he associated with the engine or propeller. Reducing engine power further did not eliminate the vibration. He initially planned to attempt a downwind landing on the runway; however, the ultralight was too high and too fast. The pilot then decided to attempt a landing in a soybean field north of the runway. He initiated a left turn about 25 feet above ground level (agl) in order to line up with the field. However, the ultralight began to lose airspeed. About 8 feet agl, the ultralight inadvertently stalled and impacted the field. A postaccident inspection did not reveal any anomalies related to the engine or flight control system, which would have precluded normal operation. Accordingly, the source of the reported vibration could not be isolated. The pilot reported that he was operating the aircraft as an ultralight under 14 Code of Regulations Part 103. However, the accident aircraft was powered by a Rotax 503 engine, which according to the manufacturer, did not qualify to be operated as an ultralight. With a Rotax 503 engine installed, the aircraft exceeded the weight and maximum speed limitations specified for an ultralight. The accident airplane was required to be operated as an experimental light sport aircraft under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The accident airplane had not been issued airworthiness or registration certificates. Incidentally, the Quad City Challenger I did qualify to be operated as an ultralight under Part 103 provided a smaller, lower power engine was installed. The accident airplane had not been issued airworthiness or registration certificates by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In addition, FAA inspectors were informed by the pilot that there were no maintenance records for the aircraft, nor were they supplied with any documentation of inspections or maintenance being accomplished. ## Aircraft - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: QUAD CITY CHALLENGER I - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0761 - Airframe hours: 305 - Engines: Rotax 503UL 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: None - Last inspection: Condition, July 1, 2013, 25 hours before - Departed: 10D, Winsted, MN - Destination: 10D, Winsted, MN - Airport: 10D, Winsted Municipal, runway 27, 3,248 × 200 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; seat: single; flight hours: 350 total, 305 in this make and model, 340 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 23 °F, dew point 9 °F - Altimeter: 30.71 inHg - Observed at: GYL, 12 nm away ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 31, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88456. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40407841&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Conoversation Record -- FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408119&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Conoversation%20Record%20--%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Aircraft Information -- Quad City Ultralights (item 3, .PDF, 93 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408024&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aircraft%20Information%20--%20Quad%20City%20Ultralights-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.