# NTSB CEN19LA226: Cashen Super Acro Sport, N61SC, Detroit Lakes, MN, July 16, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 16, 2019, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Detroit Lakes, MN - Coordinates: 46.833057, -95.89389 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.8331&lon=-95.8939&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Electrical system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 99888 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN19LA226 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99888/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99888 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN19LA226 ## Probable cause An open circuit in the engine's electrical switch box, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power and subsequent forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Ignition system: magneto/distributor](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Cashen SUPER ACRO SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414/cases.md?model=0564630), [All aircraft, 101 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057414/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach: Electrical system malf/failure](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332) (defining event); cases with it: [Cashen SUPER ACRO SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md?model=0564630), [All aircraft, 182 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/332/sequence.md) - [Approach: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342); cases with it: [Cashen SUPER ACRO SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=0564630), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cashen SUPER ACRO SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=0564630), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting a local flight to ensure that the airplane was operating normally for an upcoming trip. While returning to the airport, the engine experienced a loss of power and the airplane was unable to maintain altitude. The pilot conducted a forced landing to a corn field, during which the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The pilot later examined the engine and determined that one of the engine's electrical switch boxes had an open circuit, which prevented electrical charge from reaching the cylinder Nos. 1, 3, and 5 spark plugs. The other switch box, which provided charge to the Nos. 2, 4, and 6 spark plugs, operated normally. It is likely that the loss of engine power was the result of the open circuit and subsequent lack of ignition to three cylinders. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 2019, about 1845 central daylight time, an experimental Super Acro Sport airplane, N61SC, made a forced landing in a cornfield near Detroit Lakes Airport (DTL), Detroit Lakes, Minnesota. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan had been filed. The local fight had departed about 1815 and was returning to DTL at the time of the accident. The pilot stated to the responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector that he was conducting a local flight to ensure the airplane was operating normally for his upcoming trip. While returning to the airport the engine suddenly experienced and loss of power and he was unable to maintain altitude. He could not reach the airport so he executed a forced landing to the corn field. After the airplane flipped inverted, he exited under his own power. The pilot added that he had installed a 260-horsepower Mercury marine-type outboard engine. This engine was too heavy for the airplane so he later installed a 200-horsepower Mercury marine-type outboard engine, which was water-cooled with a fabricated radiator and heat exchange system. The airplane came to rest inverted in a corn field about 1/4-mile northwest of DTL. About 50 ft of corn had been flattened leading up the accident site. Fuel residue was observed around the airplane's fuel tank and absorbent material had been placed on the ground by first responders to absorb the fuel spillage. In a post-accident statement, the pilot reported that he was about 1.5 miles north of runway 17 when he felt the airplane settle so he advanced the throttle, but the engine did not respond. He was unable to reach the runway so he completed a "falling leaf" maneuver to descend quickly. As the airplane approached the ground, he "broke the stall" and then settled into the corn stalks. The airplane continued forward about 150 ft, then nosed over and came to rest inverted. He added that the engine was new and had accumulated about 4.5 hours of ground run time with no anomalies. On July 29, 2019, the pilot reported to the NTSB that he had examined the engine and determined that one of the engine's electrical switch boxes had an open circuit and the open circuit did not allow and electrical charge to reach the Nos. 1, 3, and 5 spark plugs. The other switch box that allowed electrical charge to the other 3 cylinders had a closed circuit and operated normally. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N61SC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61SC-2022-07-02), registration cancelled 2022-07-02, S/N 572, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CASHEN Super Acro Sport - Registry model: [Cashen SUPER ACRO SPORT](https://openairdocs.org/model/cashen-super-acro-sport) (registry code 0564630) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 SER A&C](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-ser-a-c) (registry code 41511, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 572 - Year built: 1977 - Engines: Mercury 2.5 V6 200 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, June 18, 2019 - Departed: DTL, Detroit Lakes, MN - Destination: DTL, Detroit Lakes, MN - Airport: DTL, Detroit Lakes-Wething Field, runway 17, 1,890 × 250 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: minor; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 5, 2018; seat: single; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 17,000 total, 3.4 in this make and model, 718.5 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Observed at: KDTL ## 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 20190716017559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190716017559A), Jul 16, 2019: Cashen SUPER ACRO SPORT, Detroit Lakes, MN, Minor damage. Pilot was turning final to land on a grass strip at kdtl airport when the aircraft lost power. Pilot stated the aircraft began to settle and lose altitude.… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 31, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99888. 5.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481809&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 135 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481810&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 3, .PDF, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481811&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photos (item 4, .PDF, 321 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481812&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photos-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 5, .PDF, 945 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40481813&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-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.