# NTSB CEN23LA106: Jabiru USA Sport J250-SP, N592J, Cortland, IL, February 11, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 11, 2023, 14:06 local (20:06 UTC) - Place: Cortland, IL · field - Coordinates: 41.936666, -88.708611 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9367&lon=-88.7086&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 106725 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA106 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106725/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106725 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA106 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Jabiru USA Sport J250-SP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=060001T), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Jabiru USA Sport J250-SP, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=060001T), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Enroute-cruise: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Jabiru USA Sport J250-SP, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=060001T), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Jabiru USA Sport J250-SP, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=060001T), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The accident airplane was being flown to the pilot/owner’s home after a replacement engine had been installed. According to the pilot, the maintenance facility had conducted about 4 hours of flight testing after the engine installation was completed. Additionally, the pilot flew 4 takeoffs and landings on the day before the accident flight. The airplane was fully fueled before the flight on the morning of the accident. After an initial flight of about 1 1/4 hours, the pilot and passenger landed for a short break. The subsequent takeoff and initial portion of the accident flight were uneventful. However, about 2 1/2 hours after takeoff, during cruise flight at 4,500 feet mean sea level (msl), the engine suddenly stopped producing power. The pilot’s efforts to restore engine power were not successful, and she executed a forced landing to a muddy field. The airplane came to rest on its nose, with damage to the fuselage and right wing. Examination of the airplane at the accident site determined that about six gallons of fuel were present in the left-wing fuel tank. A small, undetermined amount of fuel was present in the right-wing fuel tank; however, the right wing was damaged during the impact sequence. A postrecovery engine examination noted fuel in the carburetor bowl. The examination did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The total fuel capacity was 36 gallons, and the fuel consumption ranged from 5.5 to 7.0 gph. As a result, the expected fuel consumption for a 4-hour flight would be about 28 gallons. The investigation was unable to identify any cause for the loss of engine power during cruise flight. ## Factual narrative On February 11, 2023, about 1406 central standard time, a Jabiru J250-SP light sport airplane, N592J, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Courtland, Illinois. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The accident airplane was being flown from Bomar Field/Shelbyville Municipal Airport (SYI), Shelbyville, Tennessee, after a replacement engine was installed. According to the airplane owner/pilot, the maintenance facility had conducted about 4 hours of flight testing after the engine installation was completed. Additionally, the pilot flew 4 takeoffs and landings on the day before the accident, before the return trip home to Waukesha County Airport (UES), Waukesha, Wisconsin. According to the pilot, the flight departed SYI about 0945 with full fuel. The pilot and passenger arrived at Ohio County Airport (JQD), Hartford, Kentucky, about 1100 for a short break. The preflight inspection and departure from JQD were normal. The pilot reported that, about 1406, during cruise flight at 4,500 ft msl en route to UES, the engine suddenly stopped producing power. The pilot noted that there were no warnings or other indications leading up to the event. After declaring an emergency and diverting toward the nearest airport, the pilot made 4-5 attempts to restart the engine. The pilot stated that the engine would start momentarily but then lose power 3-4 seconds later with the propeller coming to a stop after each attempt. In addition, the flight displays would turn on and off along with the engine with no usable information; however, the radios continued to function. The pilot attempted to divert to Dekalb Taylor Municipal Airport (DKB), Dekalb, Illinois. However, when it became apparent that reaching DKB would not be possible, she executed a forced landing to a muddy field. The airplane came to rest on its nose, with damage to the fuselage and right wing. Examination of the airplane at the accident site determined that about six gallons of fuel was present in the left-wing fuel tank. A small, undetermined amount of fuel was present in the right-wing fuel tank; however, the right wing was damaged in the impact sequence. The carburetor bowl contained fluid consistent with fuel. A postaccident engine examination did not reveal any mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation. Review of the airplane service manual revealed that the total fuel capacity was 36 gallons. The published endurance was 6.5 hours with a fuel reserve, and the published fuel consumption was 4.5 to 5.5 gph. The maintenance facility representative noted that the normal fuel consumption for the airplane is about 6 gph. However, during an engine break in period, fuel consumption can be as high as 7 gph. According to a representative of the airplane maintenance facility, the airplane’s EFIS systems will not operate below 10.5 volts. Whenattempting an in-flight engine restart using the starter, the EFIS systems will reboot due to the drop in voltage. Multiple attempts with the starter would have caused the EFIS to continue rebooting. The radios operate on much lower voltage and will continue to operate when the starter is engaged. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N592J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N592J-2024-06-22), registration cancelled 2024-06-22, S/N 412, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: JABIRU USA SPORT AIRCRAFT LLC J250-SP - Registry model: [Jabiru USA Sport J250-SP](https://openairdocs.org/model/jabiru-usa-sport-j250-sp) (registry code 060001T) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 3300](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-3300) (registry code 34801, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 412 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 504.1 - Engines: Jabiru 3300A 120 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 11, 2022, 67.9 hours before - Departed: JQD, Hartford, KY - Destination: UES, Waukesha, WI - Airport: DKB, Dekalb Taylor Muni - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 28, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 363 total, 353 in this make and model, 258 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 10 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 43 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.26 inHg - Observed at: ARR, 12 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 20230211001469A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230211001469A), Feb 11, 2023: Jabiru USA Sport Aircraft LLC J250-SP, Sycamore, IL, Substantial damage. On February 11, 2023, at approximately 1411 local, [privacy data omitted], a 2007 Jabiru USA Sport Aircraft LLC J250-SP single engine airplane, operating under… ## Docket (10 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 2, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106725. 108 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18058867&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN23LA106_6120_redacted-Rel.pdf - Conversation summary -- FAA inspector (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18076201&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20FAA%20Insp%20(Cull)-Rel.pdf - Conversation summary -- maintenance facility (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18063665&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20Arion%20Aircraft%20(Otterback)-Rel.pdf - Wreckage examination (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 133 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18004259&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN23LA106%20-%20Examination%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Investigation photos (item 5, PDF, 7 pages, 6 photos, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18004181&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CEN23LA106%20-%20Photo%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records - airframe (item 6, PDF, 16 pages, 42.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18063750&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20--%20Airframe_redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records - engine (item 7, PDF, 20 pages, 53.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18064014&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20--%20Engine_redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records - propeller (item 8, PDF, 3 pages, 4.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18063621&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20--%20Propeller_redacted-Rel.pdf - Airplane service manual -- excerpt (item 9, PDF, 3 pages, 46 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18064024&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Service%20Manual%20--%20Excerpt-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 10, PDF, 1 page, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18062273&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Release%20of%20Wreckage%20--%20CEN23LA106_redacted-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.