# NTSB CHI00LA298: Morrison E-RACER, N345JM, Sugar Grove, IL, September 12, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 12, 2000, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Sugar Grove, IL - Coordinates: 41.759449, -88.449295 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7594&lon=-88.4493&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 17, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 50264 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA298 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50264/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA298 ## Probable cause the owner/builder's inadequate modification to the engine air intake system and the inadvertent engine shutdown. Factors included the low air pressure of the air intake system and the excessive fuel flow to the manifold. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final - engine shutdown - inadvertent (cause) - acft/equip,inadequate design, owner/builder (cause) - fuel system - excessive flow/output (contributing factor) - induction air control,intake manifold - pressure too low (contributing factor) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot reported he was performing a test flight to test the cylinder head cooling ducts. On the left base to final approach to runway 33 at ARR, the airplane had a total loss of power. The pilot reported, "... because of altitude and time, a emergency landing was made to a bean field 1/2 to 1/4 mile from RW 33." The pilot reported he had extended the turn to base due to traffic in the landing pattern. The pilot reported that he had modified the airplane with a relief pressure valve in the air intake so that supercharged air could be vented prior to the fuel servo when the engine was at idle. The pilot reported that on the accident flight the engine was flooded with fuel when the throttle was pulled back to idle. The engine quit and a forced landing was executed. ## Factual narrative On September 12, 2000, at 1730 central daylight time, an experimental Morrison E-Racer, N345JM, was substantially damaged when it landed in a bean field near Sugar Grove, Illinois, after it had experienced a loss of power. The private pilot was not injured. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight had departed from Aurora Municipal Airport (ARR), Aurora, Illinois, at 1655 on a local test flight. The airplane was on a left base to runway 33 when it experienced a loss of power. An emergency landing was made to a bean field about 1/2 mile south of the airport. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported he was performing a test flight to test the cylinder head cooling ducts. On the left base to final approach to runway 33 at ARR, the airplane had a total loss of power. The pilot reported, "... because of altitude and time, a emergency landing was made to a bean field 1/2 to 1/4 mile from RW 33." The pilot reported he had extended the turn to base due to traffic in the landing pattern. The pilot reported that he had modified the airplane with a relief pressure valve in the air intake so that supercharged air could be vented prior to the fuel servo when the engine was at idle. The pilot reported that on the accident flight the engine was flooded with fuel when the throttle was pulled back to idle. The engine quit and a forced landing was executed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N345JM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N345JM-2008-07-30), registration cancelled 2008-07-30, S/N 113 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Morrison E-RACER - Registry model: [Morrison John K E RACER](https://openairdocs.org/model/morrison-john-k-e-racer) (registry code 05628U1) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 113 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Registered owner: John K. Morrison - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 14, 2000 - Departed: ARR - Airport: ARR, Aurora Municipal Airport, runway 33, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 191 total, 24 in this make and model, 67 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 156 °F, dew point 111 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ARR ## 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 20000912042789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000912042789A), Sep 12, 2000: Amtr ERACER, Chicago/Aurora, IL, Substantial damage. (-23) The aircraft was on a maintenance test flight for the installation of a supercharger. The aircraft lost power while on a left base to runway 33. It… ## Other investigations on N345JM (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI08LA169](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08LA169), Jun 21, 2008: Morrison E-Racer (N345JM), Aurora, IL, destroyed. Probable cause: An undetermined failure in the high-pressure fuel system, and the subsequent loss of engine power and in-flight fire. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's restricted visibility due to the… 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.