# NTSB CEN18LA200: Irlbeck Thomas H RV 8, N214FF, Somerset, WI, May 29, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 28, 2018, 19:45 local (May 29, 2018, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Somerset, WI - Coordinates: 45.141666, -92.702499 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1417&lon=-92.7025&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97344 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN18LA200 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97344/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97344 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA200 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to damaged and disconnected electronic ignition wires from both the main and backup batteries, which resulted in a forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Electrical power system: electrical pwr sys wiring](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022497): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Irlbeck Thomas H RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022497/cases.md?model=05608YB), [All aircraft, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022497/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Irlbeck Thomas H RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=05608YB), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Irlbeck Thomas H RV-8, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05608YB), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while in cruise flight in the experimental, amateur-built airplane, the radio and GPS lights flickered, followed by a total loss of engine power. He attempted to troubleshoot the loss of power and then conducted a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane impacted a fence; the wings were substantially damaged. Examination revealed that the wire connection from the main battery to the engine's electronic ignition had melted just above the terminal attachment. Although the airplane was equipped with a backup battery, the connection from the backup battery to the ignition was disconnected, which pre and the wire connection from the electronic ignition to the backup battery was not connected to the battery terminal. While the melted wire that connected the main battery to the electronic ignition would still have allowed power to the electronic ignition from the backup battery, the lack of connection to the backup battery provided no power to the electronic ignition and resulted in the total loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On May 28, 2018, about 2015 central standard time, an experimental, amateur-built RV-8, N214FF, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Somerset, Wisconsin. The private pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that, about 10 miles from the destination airport, the sky was dark, with lightning and increasing wind conditions, and he decided to divert to his private grass runway. Shortly thereafter, the airplane's radio and GPS unit started to flicker and then went completely dark, followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot attempted to troubleshoot the loss of engine power and stated that the mixture was at full rich and the electric boost pump was on. He noticed that the switch light on the electric boost pump was very dim and there was no response when he flipped the switch. He tried to “pump” the throttle and changed the fuel selector from the left to right tank, but engine power was not restored. The pilot stated that he was losing airspeed and altitude, and he selected a field to conduct a forced landing, during which the airplane's right main landing gear impacted a fence, resulting in substantial damage to the wings. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane after the accident and reported that the main battery was a homemade, gel-cell battery with a bundle of small, melted wires attached to the positive battery post. One of the wires in this melted bundle was connected to the engine's electronic ignition system. A backup battery was mounted to the engine firewall with a spade connector wire lead, which was disconnected. This wire connected the electronic ignition to the backup battery. The back-up battery was tested with a voltmeter and was fully charged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N214FF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N214FF), registered now, S/N 80687 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: IRLBECK THOMAS H RV 8 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Irlbeck Thomas H RV-8](https://openairdocs.org/model/irlbeck-thomas-h-rv-8) (registry code 05608YB) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 80687 - Year built: 1988 - Airframe hours: 2069 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-B1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special); Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 20, 2017 - Departed: 21D, Lake Elmo, MN - Destination: OEO, Osceola, WI - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 12, 2017; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 935 total, 80 in this make and model, 935 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 120° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KOEO, 10 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 20180528006099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180528006099A), May 28, 2018: Irlbeck Thomas H RV-8, Somerset, WI, Substantial damage. Dual electronic ignition failed due to disconnected wire. Emergency landing had touchdown point 10 feet from impacting fence between two beautiful fields. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 26, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97344. 968 KB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 13 pages, 510 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11754677&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20completed%20w%20blocks%20filled_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photographs of airplane after accident (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 325 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11749081&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20for%20Docket-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record from FAA exam (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 133 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11876673&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20of%20Record%20for%20FAA%20Exam-Rel.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.