CHI03LA327

During an aerobatic competition, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power, and was damaged during the ensuing forced landing. The pilot departed the competitor's zone and attempted to land on the active runway even though the opposite direction runway would have been closer. After switching fuel tanks in an unsuccessful attempt to regain engine power, the pilot prepared for the forced landing. The airplane impacted the ground 30-50 feet off the approach end of the runway. The airplane's propeller and wing were damaged and the landing gear collapsed. The magneto switch was found in the off position. The pilot had no recollection of having turned the switch to the off position. The pilot escaped with no injuries.

On August 23, 2003, about 1740 central daylight time, an Extra Flugzeugbau EA200, N9PB, piloted by a private pilot sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power while maneuvering near Sugar Grove, Illinois. The airplane was being flown in an aerobatic competition when the power loss occurred. The airplane came to rest about 50 feet short of the runway during the attempted landing to runway 9 (6,501 feet by 100 feet, concrete), at the Aurora Municipal Airport (ARR). The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot was not injured. The local flight originated at an undetermined time.

The pilot reported the engine lost power while performing an aerobatic maneuver while in an aerobatic competition. She exited the competitor area and switched over to control tower frequency and informed them of her situation. She stated that she switched fuel tanks from the acro tank to the wing tank, but the engine did not regain power. She stated that she was "just south of the airport, closer to [runway] 27, but as [runway] 9 was the active runway I attempted a 180 [degree] side approach to runway 9." The airplane sank too quickly and impacted the ground "approximately 30-50 [feet]" off the west end of runway 9. After impact she exited the airplane and noticed damage to the prop, wing, and collapsed landing gear.

A fellow competitor went to assist in the accident. He noticed the key was in the "off position." The accident pilot has no recollection of turning the key in the off position after impact. An authorized inspector who performed the accident airplanes last annual said "the key could have possibly been struck or shaken to the off position." The pilot stated that after the accident she "never checked the position of the key (mags) during the emergency scenario."