# NTSB CHI08CA114: Bardouche Quad City Ultralight, N423V, Pulaski, WI, April 4, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 4, 2008, 12:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Pulaski, WI - Coordinates: 44.633888, -88.201385 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6339&lon=-88.2014&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Milwaukee, Wisconsin - NTSB case key (mKey): 67973 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08CA114 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67973/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08CA114 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power during cruise due to the separation of the spark plug because of the loose threads. Contributing to the accident was trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Ignition system: spark plugs/igniters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057421): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Bardouche Gerald J QUAD CITY ULTRALIGHT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057421/cases.md?model=05622ZU), [All aircraft, 38 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057421/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Bardouche Gerald J QUAD CITY ULTRALIGHT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=05622ZU), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Bardouche Gerald J QUAD CITY ULTRALIGHT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05622ZU), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bardouche Gerald J QUAD CITY ULTRALIGHT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05622ZU), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during cruise flight, about 700 feet above the ground, the engine lost power. He stated that he attempted to troubleshoot the power loss to no avail. He then selected a landing site, but did not have sufficient altitude and landed the airplane in trees. The airplane came to rest in the tree tops and had sustained substantial damage due to the impact with the trees. Examination of the engine subsequent to the accident revealed that the spark plug had fallen out of its threaded hole. Examination of the threads revealed that they were loose and had been re-cut at some time in the past. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during cruise flight, about 700 feet above the ground, the engine lost power. He stated that he attempted to troubleshoot the power loss to no avail. He then selected a landing site, but did not have sufficient altitude and landed the airplane in trees. The airplane came to rest in the tree tops and had sustained substantial damage due to the impact with the trees. Examination of the engine subsequent to the accident revealed that the spark plug had fallen out of its threaded hole. Examination of the threads revealed that they were loose and had been re-cut at some time in the past. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N423V](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N423V-2017-10-31), registration cancelled 2017-10-31, S/N 1298-CW-0713, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BARDOUCHE QUAD CITY ULTRALIGHT - Registry model: [Bardouche Gerald J QUAD CITY ULTRALIGHT](https://openairdocs.org/model/bardouche-gerald-j-quad-city-ultralight) (registry code 05622ZU) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503 DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-dcdi) (registry code 55566, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1298-CW-0713 - Airframe hours: 254 - Engines: Rotax 503 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 1, 2007 - Departed: OCQ, OCONTO, WI - Destination: 92C, PULASKI, WI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: minor; student; flight hours: 254 total, 254 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 50 °F ## 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 20080404835439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080404835439A), Apr 4, 2008: Bardou QUADCITYULTR, Sobieski, WI, Substantial damage. (-23) Took off from pulaski airport and landed at occonto airport. Left occonto to return to pulaski. While in cruise at around 1300 feet the engine lost RPM… 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.