# NTSB CHI08LA169: Morrison E-Racer, N345JM, Aurora, IL, June 21, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 21, 2008, 12:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Aurora, IL - Coordinates: 41.771945, -88.475555 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7719&lon=-88.4756&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 29, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-DuPage FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 68478 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08LA169 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68478/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08LA169 ## 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 smoke in the cockpit, failure of the aileron control during landing flare, and the collapse of the left main landing gear due to the hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Fuel system: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Morrison John K E-RACER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md?model=05625QT), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md) - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Morrison John K E-RACER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md?model=05625QT), [All aircraft, 151 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01050000/cases.md) - [Physical workspace: air quality/dust/smoke](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041025): Environmental issues › Task environment · Effect on personnel (probable cause); cases with it: [Morrison John K E-RACER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041025/cases.md?model=05625QT), [All aircraft, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03041025/cases.md) - [Flight control system: aileron control system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022710): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Morrison John K E-RACER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022710/cases.md?model=05625QT), [All aircraft, 45 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022710/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Morrison John K E-RACER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05625QT), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Morrison John K E-RACER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=05625QT), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Morrison John K E-RACER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05625QT), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Fire/smoke (non-impact)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150); cases with it: [Morrison John K E-RACER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md?model=05625QT), [All aircraft, 504 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/150/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Flight control sys malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333); cases with it: [Morrison John K E-RACER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md?model=05625QT), [All aircraft, 410 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/333/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Morrison John K E-RACER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05625QT), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Morrison John K E-RACER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05625QT), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot experienced a complete loss of engine power during initial climb after takeoff. The airplane was about 1 mile from the airport at 2,000 feet mean sea level at the time. The pilot elected to return to the airport for landing and notified the air traffic control tower accordingly. The cockpit began to fill with smoke, and shortly afterward the pilot reported noticing a fire in the cockpit near the firewall. The pilot successfully continued an approach to the departure runway, intermittently losing visual contact with the runway due to the smoke in the cockpit. On short final, he applied full left aileron and rudder inputs in an attempt to align the airplane for landing; however, the aileron control failed at that time. The airplane landed hard and the left main landing gear collapsed. The airplane spun around and came to rest about 1,500 feet from the runway threshold. The pilot successfully evacuated the airplane, which was subsequently consumed by the fire. The post accident examination was unable to locate the exact source of the fire. The pilot commented that the extent and rapid progression of the fire was consistent with a failure in the high-pressure fuel system. ## Factual narrative On June 21, 2008, about 1230 central daylight time, an amateur-built Morrison E-Racer, N345JM, was destroyed by an in-flight and subsequent post landing ground fire at the Aurora Municipal Airport (ARR), Aurora, Illinois. The personal cross-country flight was being conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The pilot was not injured. The flight departed ARR shortly before the accident, with an intended destination of Frasca Field Airport (C16), Urbana, Illinois. The pilot reported departing normally from runway 27 (6,501 feet by 100 feet, concrete). However, on initial climb after takeoff, when the airplane was at 2,000 feet mean sea level about 1 mile from the airport, the engine speed started decreasing. He turned on the secondary fuel pump, and notified the air traffic control tower that he was experiencing an engine problem and was returning to the airport. The engine speed increased approximately 200 revolutions per minute (rpm), to about 1,950 rpm, before it lost power completely. Shortly afterward, the cockpit began to fill with smoke. The pilot elected to secure the engine, and turn off the fuel pumps and fuel valve. He informed the air traffic controller about the smoke in the cockpit and was immediately cleared to land. A few seconds later he noticed that a fire had started in the cockpit near the firewall. Visibility and breathing were difficult due to the smoke. The pilot successfully continued an approach to the departure runway, intermittently losing visual contact with the runway due to the smoke in the cockpit. On short final, he realized that the airplane was not properly lined up with the runway. He applied full left aileron and rudder inputs in an attempt to correct; however, the aileron control failed at that time. The airplane landed hard and flat, on all three wheels, collapsing the left main landing gear. The airplane spun around and came to a rest about 1,500 feet from the runway threshold. The pilot successfully evacuated the airplane, which was consumed by the fire. The post accident examination was unable to locate the exact source of the fire. The pilot commented that the extent and rapid progression of the fire was consistent with a failure in the high-pressure fuel system. ## 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 - Airframe hours: 365 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1D1 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: Both - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: ARR, Aurora, IL - Destination: C16, Urbana, IL - Airport: ARR, Chicago/Aurora Muni, runway 27, 6,501 × 100 ft, concrete ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 490 total, 365 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 13 knots, gusting 28 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 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 20080621841819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080621841819A), Jun 21, 2008: Amtr ERACER, Chicago/Aurora, IL, Destroyed. (-23) Departed Aurora airport, IL runway 27. Engine lost some power. Pilot notified ATC, he was returning to the airport. Smoke started to fill the cockpit.… ## 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 CHI00LA298](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA298), Sep 12, 2000: Morrison E-RACER (N345JM), Sugar Grove, IL, substantial damage. 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… 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.