# NTSB CEN16LA243: Challenger II CW, N788RH, Marysville, OH, June 30, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 30, 2016, 12:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Marysville, OH - Coordinates: 40.223888, -83.35083 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.2239&lon=-83.3508&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 November 15, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Columbus FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 93531 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN16LA243 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93531/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93531 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN16LA243 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Ignition system: spark plugs/igniters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057421): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Hammer Robert H JR CHALLENGER II CW, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057421/cases.md?model=056762F), [All aircraft, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057421/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: [Hammer Robert H JR CHALLENGER II CW, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056762F), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Hammer Robert H JR CHALLENGER II CW, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=056762F), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Post-impact: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hammer Robert H JR CHALLENGER II CW, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056762F), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The student pilot of the light sport airplane reported that, during the initial climb after takeoff, the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot made a left turn to land on a grass runway parallel to the departure runway; the airplane sustained substantial damage during the forced landing. The pilot reported that one of the spark plugs had come out of the 2-cylinder engine; however, it could not be determined if the displacement occurred before or during the impact. No further examination of the engine was performed, and the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available information. ## Factual narrative On June 30, 2016, about 1230 eastern daylight time, a Hammer Challenger II CW experimental amateur-built single-engine airplane, N788RH, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power during initial climb at Union County Airport (MRT), Marysville, Ohio. The student pilot was not injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the local flight. According to the pilot's accident report, after takeoff and during the initial climb, the engine lost all power. Since the airplane was still over the runway and the winds were calm, the pilot made a left turn in an attempt to land on a grass runway parallel to the departure runway. The pilot made "a hard semi-controlled landing." Post-accident examination revealed the left main landing gear and wing strut were bent, and the left wing tip was crumpled. Further examination revealed a spark plug had blown out of the 2-cylinder engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N788RH](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N788RH), registered now, S/N 0788, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Challenger II CW - Registry model: [Hammer Robert H JR CHALLENGER II CW](https://openairdocs.org/model/hammer-robert-h-jr-challenger-ii-cw) (registry code 056762F) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Hirth 3203](https://openairdocs.org/engine/hirth-3203) (registry code 33733, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0788 - Year built: 2009 - Airframe hours: 783 - Engines: HIRTH 3203 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 8, 2014 - Departed: MRT, Marysville, OH - Destination: MRT, Marysville, OH - Airport: MRT, Union County, runway 27, 4,218 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 66; injuries: none; student; medical: sport pilot; last flight review March 31, 2015; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 92 total, 44 in this make and model, 92 as pilot in command, 3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KMRT ## 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 20160630013709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160630013709A), Jun 30, 2016: Hammer Robert H Jr CHALLENGER II CW, Marysville, OH, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed runway 27 and lost power at 1000 feet on climbout. Pilot banked left and made emergency landing on adjacent grass runway. Aircraft impacted… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 7, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93531. 1.0 MB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40465713&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-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.