# NTSB CHI88DEP06: Huntley Challenger II, N51012, Platteville, WI, July 12, 1988

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: July 11, 1988, 20:00 local (Jul 12, 1988, 01:00 UTC)
- Place: Platteville, WI
- Coordinates: 42.72924, -90.469108 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7292&lon=-90.4691&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report July 3, 1989
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13878
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI88DEP06
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13878/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI88DEP06

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb
  - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor)
  - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AFTER CLIMBING ABOUT 100' AFTER TAKEOFF, A PARTIAL POWER LOSS OCCURRED & THE PLT INITIATED A LEFT TURN TO RTRN TO THE ARPT. UNABLE TO REACH THE ARPT, AN EMERG LNDG WAS MADE IN A CORN FIELD & THE ACFT WAS DAMAGED. NO AIRFRAME FAILURE WAS FOUND & THE ENG RAN NORMALLY DRG AN OPERATIONAL CHECK. THE PLT NOTED THAT SVRL BAGS & A PURSE WERE STOWED AFT OF THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT ON TOP OF THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK (JUG). THERE WAS A FLEXIBLE FUEL LINE THAT WAS ROUTED FROM THE TOP OF THE FUEL JUG TO THE ENG. AN INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT IF THE FLEXIBLE FUEL LINE HAD BECOME KINKED OR IF THE VENT ON TOP OF THE JUG HAD BEEN BLOCKED, FUEL FLOW TO THE ENG WOULD HAVE BEEN RESTRICTED.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N51012 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: HUNTLEY CHALLENGER II (CHALLENGER)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 0284
- Airframe hours: 51
- Engines: BOMBARDIER ROTAX 503 53 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Huntley, John D.
- Registered owner: John D Huntley
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 25, 1988, 51 hours before
- Destination: 47C, BOSCOBEL, WI
- Airport: PVB, Grant County, runway 25, 3,605 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,060 total, 51 in this make and model, 1,000 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 40 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °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 19880711027479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880711027479A), Jul 11, 1988: Amtrqc CHALLENGER2, Platteville, WI, Substantial damage. Engine lost power on homebuilt on climbout. Crash landed. Had placed luggage on plastic gas line and kinked it.

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.

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