# NTSB CEN19LA149: Chistov Challenger, N638DC, Raymond, MS, May 22, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 21, 2019, 19:10 local (May 22, 2019, 00:10 UTC) - Place: Raymond, MS - Coordinates: 32.120277, -90.312774 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.1203&lon=-90.3128&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration; Jackson FSDO, Rotech Flight Safety Inc. - NTSB case key (mKey): 99470 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19LA149 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99470/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99470 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA149 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Chistov Dmitriy CHALLENGER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=056324K), [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. - [Approach: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Chistov Dmitriy CHALLENGER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056324K), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Chistov Dmitriy CHALLENGER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056324K), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Chistov Dmitriy CHALLENGER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056324K), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting a local personal flight in the experimental, airplane. He reported that the engine operated "flawlessly" during the flight; however, on final approach for landing, the engine completely lost power. The pilot trimmed the airplane for its best glide speed and attempted to land, but the airplane impacted the top of a tree and power lines adjacent to the runway and was subsequently destroyed by a postcrash fire. Fire damage precluded examination of the airplane's fuel system. The internal components of the engine valves and drive train were connected. Several of the internal engine components were not aircraft-engine-specific parts; however, whether these components contributed to the loss of engine power could not be determined. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available information. ## Factual narrative On May 22, 2019, about 1910 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Chistov Challenger, N638DC, experienced a total loss of engine power during a visual approach for landing to a private airstrip near Raymond, Mississippi. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire. The pilot was uninjured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight that was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local flight originated from the private airstrip about 1910. The pilot stated that he departed from the private airstrip on a local personal flight during which the engine operated "flawlessly." He stated the approach to the airport was normal and uneventful. During short final, the engine completely lost power. The pilot trimmed the airplane for best glide speed and attempted to land but the airplane hit the top of a tree adjacent to the runway and struck powerlines. The 2-stroke Rotax model 503 engine was examined under the supervision of the Federal Aviation Administration and by a representative of Rotech Flight Safety Inc. The representative stated that post-crash fire damage precluded examination of the fuel system and determination of fuel system contaminants. The internal components of the engine were connected. Several of the internal engine components were not aircraft engine specific parts specified by Rotax. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N638DC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N638DC-2020-02-03), registration cancelled 2020-02-03, S/N CH20294 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHISTOV CHALLENGER - Registry model: [Chistov Dmitriy CHALLENGER](https://openairdocs.org/model/chistov-dmitriy-challenger) (registry code 056324K) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: CH20294 - Airframe hours: 243 - Engines: Rotax 503 52 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, December 2, 2018 - Departed: Raymond, MS - Destination: Raymond, MS - Airport: PVT, Private ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 392 total, 240 in this make and model, 390 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: JVW, 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 20190522008379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190522008379A), May 22, 2019: Chistov Dmitriy CHALLENGER, Terry, MS, Destroyed. On may 22, 2019, at around 19:10, N638DC departed from a private airport in Terry, Mississippi, and began flying southeast. Shortly after departure, the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 21, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99470. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482776&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Rotech (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40482777&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Rotech-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.