CEN26LA258

On July 17, 2026, at 1748 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Vans Aircraft Inc RV-8A, N22SZ, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. The commercial pilot was uninjured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that while en route to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, he stopped at Iowa County Airport, Mineral Point (MRJ), Wisconsin, for fuel and to wait for visual flight conditions to improve at the destination airport. He then departed MRJ, and after climbing to 9,000 ft mean sea level, he switched fuel tanks and a “moment or so” later, the engine lost power. He then initiated a return to MRJ, during which he attempted several engine restarts. The engine restarted during the descent to MRJ, then lost power, restarted again, and continued to operate for the remainder flight to and taxi at MRJ. After the flight, the pilot stated that he talked to six or eight pilots at MRJ, two of which were mechanics, and a mechanic based at MRJ, about the loss of engine power that he had experienced. The group discussed mechanical and electrical fuel pump failures, carburetor icing, vapor lock, and test flying the airplane. On the following day, the pilot attempted a test flight of the airplane from MRJ. The pilot stated that the engine start for the test flight was “very clean normal start,” there were no hot start or fuel vapor problems, and the engine run-up was normal. He said that shortly after takeoff and early in the climb, the airplane engine began to run rough, and he decided to end the test flight and return to the airport. While turning left and climbing into the airport traffic pattern, the engine lost power. The pilot then decided to turn and land the airplane in the opposite direction since there was no engine power to fly an airport traffic pattern. During the turn, the engine started again but later lost power, and the airplane was high and fast. The pilot performed a forced landing on runway 11 where it impacted the runway surface. The airplane sustained substantial to both wings, the engine firewall, and an engine mount. The airplane was retained for further examination.