# NTSB CEN19LA163: Griff Challenger, N582L, Switz City, IN, June 11, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 10, 2019, 21:00 local (Jun 11, 2019, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Switz City, IN - Coordinates: 39.064723, -87.053337 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0647&lon=-87.0533&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards, Rotech Flight Safety, Inc. - NTSB case key (mKey): 99603 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19LA163 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99603/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99603 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA163 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to failure of a connecting rod bearing. Contributing to the engine failure was the lack of an engine overhaul within the prescribed interval. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip engine power section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Fatigue/wear/corrosion (probable cause); cases with it: [Griff Richard CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md?model=056294O), [All aircraft, 233 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating): recip engine power section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Griff Richard CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md?model=056294O), [All aircraft, 233 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058520/cases.md) - [Maintenance: scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Owner/builder (probable cause); cases with it: [Griff Richard CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md?model=056294O), [All aircraft, 320 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340); cases with it: [Griff Richard CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=056294O), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Griff Richard CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056294O), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Griff Richard CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=056294O), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the experimental, amateur-built airplane reported that, while returning to the airport after a local flight, the engine speed "suddenly" decreased from about 5,000 rpm to 2,500 rpm. He trimmed the airplane for its best glide airspeed and began looking for a forced landing site. About 30 seconds later, the engine seized and lost power completely. The airplane touched down short of the pilot's intended landing point and nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and empennage. An engine examination revealed that a lower connecting rod bearing had failed, resulting in the total loss of engine power. Maintenance records indicated that an engine overhaul was completed slightly more than 5 years before the accident flight. The engine manufacturer's maintenance schedule specified that an engine overhaul be completed every 5 years or 300 hours, whichever comes first. It is likely that, had the engine been overhauled in accordance with manufacturer guidance, the worn connecting rod bearing would have been detected during the overhaul and resulted in its replacement. ## Factual narrative On June 11, 2019, about 2100 eastern daylight time, an amateur-built Griff Challenger II airplane, N582L, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Switz City, Indiana. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological condition prevailed, and the flight was not operated on a flight plan. The local flight departed from Shawnee Field (1I3), Bloomfield, Indiana, about 1930. The pilot reported that while returning to the airport at 2,000 ft mean sea level the engine speed "suddenly" decreased from about 5,000 rpm to 2,500 rpm. The engine water temperature began "rising fast." He trimmed the airplane for best glide airspeed and began looking for a forced landing site. About 30 seconds later, the engine lost power completely. The airplane touched down short of his intended landing point and nosed over. An engine examination was conducted under oversight of a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, with the assist of a technical representative of the engine manufacturer. The examination revealed a lower connecting rod bearing had failed. Metallic debris consistent with fragmented bearing material was recovered from the cylinder. The cylinder head and the piston exhibited mechanical peening damage. The connecting rod exhibited surface corrosion but appeared otherwise intact. Excessive play was noted between the connecting rod and the crankshaft journal consistent with the failure of the bearing. The airplane maintenance records noted that the engine was reinstalled after an overhaul on April 21, 2014 at 75.3 hours total airframe time. The most recent condition inspection was completed on August 15, 2018 at 130 hours total airframe time. The pilot reported the airframe time was 176 hours at the time of the accident. The engine manufacturer's maintenance schedule specified that an engine overhaul be completed every 5 years or 300 hours, whichever comes first. At the time of the accident, the engine was about 7 weeks beyond the 5-year overhaul limit. About 100 hours time-in-service had elapsed since the overhaul in 2014. An aircraft owner is not required comply with the engine manufacturer's recommended overhaul interval when operating under Part 91 unless the engine does not meet the requirements of a condition inspection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N582L](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N582L), registered now, S/N CH2-0708-LSS-LW-0151 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GRIFF Challenger (II) - Registry model: [Griff Richard CHALLENGER II](https://openairdocs.org/model/griff-richard-challenger-ii) (registry code 056294O) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: CH2-0708-LSS-LW - Year built: 2010 - Airframe hours: 176 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 15, 2018, 46 hours before - Departed: 1I3, Bloomfield, IN - Destination: 1I3, Bloomfield, IN - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: serious; student; last flight review March 23, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 124 total, 76 in this make and model, 11 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: BMG, 21 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 20190611006629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190611006629A), Jun 11, 2019: Griff Richard CHALLENGER II, Switz City, IN, Substantial damage. On June 11, 2019, at approximately 1800HRS CDT, N582L, a Challenger II experimental / amateur built airplane, impacted terrain after a loss of engine power.… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 28, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99603. 5.5 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=40480889&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Engine Examination Summary (item 2, .PDF, 28 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480890&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Examination%20Summary-Master.PDF - Airplane Maintenance Records (item 3, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480891&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Maintenance%20Records-Master.PDF - Engine Maintenance Schedule (item 4, .PDF, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480892&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Maintenance%20Schedule-Master.PDF - Report Photos (item 5, .PDF, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40480893&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Report%20Photos-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.