# NTSB CEN17LA313: Canion Michael W Zodiac 601XL, N577M, Grady, AR, July 20, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 20, 2017, 16:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Grady, AR - Coordinates: 34.080001, -91.700836 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0800&lon=-91.7008&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Electrical system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Little Rock FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95797 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA313 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95797/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95797 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA313 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to a lack of ignition resulting from a broken alternator wire. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Electrical power system: dC generator-alternator](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022434): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inoperative (probable cause); cases with it: [Canion Michael W ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022434/cases.md?model=05619WN), [All aircraft, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022434/cases.md) - [Electrical power system: dC power distribution system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022460): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Canion Michael W ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022460/cases.md?model=05619WN), [All aircraft, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022460/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Electrical system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332) (defining event); cases with it: [Canion Michael W ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md?model=05619WN), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Canion Michael W ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05619WN), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Canion Michael W ZODIAC 601XL, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05619WN), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The sport pilot was conducting a cross-country flight when the experimental amateur-built airplane experienced a loss of engine power; the pilot then conducted a forced landing to a field, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed a broken wire to the airplane's alternator; this specific wire supplied electrical power to the alternator field coil. Because the wire was broken, the alternator was rendered inoperative. The pilot would not have been able to detect the broken alternator wire without removing the engine cowl, which is not normally part of a pilot's preflight examination. The airplane's engine had been modified to use an ignition system that operated from the airplane's electrical system, which included a battery and the alternator to maintain the battery's charge. Once the alternator field wire had broken, the ignition system relied completely on the airplane battery's reserve power as the source of ignition power. Once the battery power was depleted, the ignition system could not operate, and the engine lost power due to the lack of ignition. ## Factual narrative On July 20, 2017, about 1645 central daylight time, an amateur-built Canion, Zodiac 601XL airplane, N577M, received substantial damage to the engine firewall during a forced landing to a field following a loss of engine power near Grady, Arkansas. The pilot was not injured. The aircraft was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not on a flight plan. The flight originated from the Center Texas Municipal Airport (F17) about 1330 and the intended destination was the Kirk Field Airport (PGR), near Paragould, Arkansas. The pilot reported that about 90 minutes into the flight he lost power to his on-board avionics equipment. Shortly thereafter, the airplane's engine lost all power and the propeller began windmilling. Attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful and the pilot attempted an off-airfield landing to a corn field. During the landing the nose wheel "dug in". Examination of the airplane after the accident revealed a broken wire to the airplane's alternator. Specifically, the broken wire supplied electrical power to the alternator field coil, rendering the alternator inoperative. Additionally, the airplane's engine had been modified to use an electronic ignition system that operated from the airplane's electrical system. The electrical system included a battery and the alternator to maintain the battery's charge. The airplane received damage to the firewall and forward fuselage supporting structure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N577M](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N577M-2019-10-28), registration cancelled 2019-10-28, S/N 6-4210, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CANION MICHAEL W ZODIAC 601XL (XL) - Registry model: [Canion Michael W ZODIAC 601XL](https://openairdocs.org/model/canion-michael-w-zodiac-601xl) (registry code 05619WN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-235-C2C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-235-c2c) (registry code 42033, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 6-4210 - Year built: 2005 - Engines: Lycoming O-235-C2C 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: F17, CENTER, TX - Destination: PGR, PARAGOULD, AR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 20, 2017; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 95 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: PBF, 13 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 20170720009979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170720009979A), Jul 20, 2017: Canion Michael W ZODIAC 601XL, Grady, AR, Substantial damage. On July 20, 2017, at approximately 1500 CDT, a zodiac 601 xl, registered as N577M, landed in a corn field near Grady, AR due to complete electrical… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 15, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95797. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot Statement (item 1, .PDF, 372 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464120&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Master.PDF - Pilot flight review record (item 2, .PDF, 151 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464121&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20flight%20review%20record-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 3, .PDF, 499 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464122&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-Master.PDF - Record of conversation with FSDO Inspector (item 4, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40464123&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20conversation%20with%20FSDO%20Inspector-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.