# NTSB CEN23LA221: Quad City Challenger, N265JW, Doniphan, MO, May 28, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 27, 2023, 19:00 local (May 28, 2023, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Doniphan, MO · tree line - Coordinates: 36.61471, -90.828831 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.6147&lon=-90.8288&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA St. Louis FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 192294 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA221 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192294/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192294 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA221 ## Probable cause A partial 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: [Hollars Joseph CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05615TC), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Hollars Joseph CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=05615TC), [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: Unknown or undetermined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000) (defining event); cases with it: [Hollars Joseph CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md?model=05615TC), [All aircraft, 1,703 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/000/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Hollars Joseph CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05615TC), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hollars Joseph CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05615TC), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the flight he attempted to increase engine power to climb over a densely wooded hillside; however, the engine did not respond. Unable to clear the hill, he decided to execute a forced landing to a pasture. During the landing rollout, the airplane struck a fence. The pilot noted that the engine did not stop running during the flight, but that he was unable to increase engine power. Postaccident engine examination of the engine did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation and the engine was started and ran at idle speed with no anomalies noted. The pilot speculated that some type of fuel flow restriction had resulted in the partial loss of engine power. Weather conditions were conducive to carburetor icing at glide power. However, the engine was equipped with a slide-type carburetor which, due to their design, are generally not susceptible to icing. ## Factual narrative On May 27, 2023, about 1900 central daylight time, a Quad City Challenger II airplane, N265JW, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Doniphan, Missouri. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that during the flight he attempted to increase engine power to climb over a densely wooded hillside; however, the engine did not respond. Unable to clear the hill, he decided to execute a forced landing to a pasture. During the landing rollout, the airplane struck a fence. The pilot noted that the engine did not stop running but that he was unable to increase engine power. The left forward wing strut was damaged during the landing, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The forward fuselage and windshield sustained minor scraping damage and a portion of the windshield was broken out. A postaccident engine examination conducted by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors did not reveal any anomalies consistent with an inability to produce rated power. The engine was started and ran at idle speed with no anomalies noted. The pilot informed the FAA inspector that he used 91 octane automotive fuel mixed with oil. The pilot had previously drained about 6 gallons of fuel from the 10-gallon tank and recovered some debris that was not retained. The pilot speculated that some type of fuel flow restriction may have resulted in the partial loss of engine power. Weather conditions were conducive to carburetor icing at glide power. However, the engine was equipped with a slide-type carburetor which, due to their design, are generally not susceptible to icing. The pilot was issued a student pilot certificate in 2013; however, it was expired at the time of the accident. There was no record of him holding an airman medical certificate or BasicMed certification. The accident pilot purchased the airplane in 2014. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N265JW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N265JW), registered now, S/N CH2-1002-CW-2265 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: QUAD CITY CHALLENGER (II) - Registry model: [Hollars Joseph CHALLENGER II](https://openairdocs.org/model/hollars-joseph-challenger-ii) (registry code 05615TC) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: CH2-1002-CW-2265 - Year built: 2003 - Airframe hours: 769 - Engines: Rotax 503DCDI 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 3, 2023, 6 hours before - Departed: PVT, Neelyville, MO - Destination: PVT, Neelyville, MO - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: none; seat: front; restraint: 4-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 5 knots, gusting 1 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KPOF, 26 nm away - METAR: METAR KPOF 280053Z AUTO 01005KT 10SM CLR 23/13 A3006 ## 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 20230527010889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230527010889A), May 27, 2023: Hollars Joseph CHALLENGER II, Doniphan, MO, Substantial damage. The aircraft lost engine power while enroute. The [privacy data omitted]pilot elected to land in a field rather than trying to cross an approaching hilltop.… ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 10, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192294. 25.4 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15720235&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Rpt%20--%20CEN23LA221_redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photos (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15725652&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20--%20CEN23LA221-Rel.pdf - Conversation summary -- FAA inspector (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15725990&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20FAA_Meuller_12Jun2023-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 4, PDF, 11 pages, 21.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15725696&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20--%20CEN23LA221_redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA regulation -- 14CFR61.69 (duration of pilot certificates) (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 36 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15740995&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=14%20CFR%2061.19%20(up%20to%20date%20as%20of%206-20-2023)-Rel.pdf - FAA SAIB -- carburetor icing prevention (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 525 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15740882&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Carburetor%20Icing%20SAIB%20(FAA%20CE-09-35)-Rel.pdf - Article -- slide carburetor design and operation (item 7, PDF, 2 pages, 460 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15742551&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=06%20-%20Carburetor%20Icing%20Article_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.