# NTSB ERA21LA008: Experimental Quad City Challenger II, N129AY, Northfield, NH, October 3, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 3, 2020, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Northfield, NH · Wooded area - Coordinates: 43.426101, -71.567249 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4261&lon=-71.5672&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 102100 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA008 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102100/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102100 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA008 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to oil starvation of the No. 1 cylinder. Contributing to the accident was the pinched No. 1 cylinder oil injection line. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng oil sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Yarberry Manuel CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md?model=05901O0), [All aircraft, 130 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md) - [Maintenance: scheduled/routine maintenance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Yarberry Manuel CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/cases.md?model=05901O0), [All aircraft, 320 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062010/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: [Yarberry Manuel CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05901O0), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, about 15 minutes into the flight, the experimental, amateur-built airplane’s engine “stopped” abruptly without any warning. He performed a forced landing in a hay field, and after landing, examined all engine systems and components. After finding no anomalies, the pilot decided to depart from the field. Shortly after takeoff, the engine again lost total power, and the pilot performed a forced landing, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Examination of the engine revealed damage to the No. 1 cylinder that was consistent with a lack of lubrication. Additionally, examination of the oil injection system revealed that the oil injection line to the No. 1 cylinder was pinched by the starter motor mounting flange. The pilot reported that he had performed maintenance in that area about 2 weeks prior and thought that the pinched oil line may have occurred during this maintenance. ## Factual narrative On October 3, 2020, about 1600 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Quad City Challenger II, N129AY, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Northfield, New Hampshire. The private pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he performed a full-stop landing at Laconia Municipal Airport (LCI), Laconia, New Hampshire, and then departed direct to Hawthorne-Feather Airpark (8B1), Hillsboro, New Hampshire, at an altitude of 2,000 ft. About 10 to 15 minutes into the flight, the engine “stopped” suddenly, and the pilot performed a forced landing in a hay field. After landing, the pilot verified that the fuel level was adequate, checked for fuel leaks, and checked the fuel filter and fuel lines for contamination or air bubbles. No anomalies were noted with the fuel system. He then checked the ignition system to see if any spark plugs or spark plug wires came loose. All the wiring from the engine to the bulkhead connectors was in place and not visibly changed from previous inspections. The pilot then rotated the propeller by hand to see if the engine had seized due to lubricating oil starvation, and it spun normally without resistance. He verified that the exhaust was still connected properly and found no anomalies with the engine. The pilot then boarded the airplane, performed the startup procedure, verified that the auxiliary electric fuel pump was operating audibly, and the engine started immediately. He performed a magneto check and verified that both magnetos were functioning properly. The engine ran for about 5 minutes as he verified that the engine temperature and voltages were in the correct range. The pilot taxied to a higher point in the field near a house, where he performed a shutdown and start-up of the engine, rechecking everything before he decided to depart. After completing a run-up, he performed a short-field takeoff procedure, and while climbing through about 100 ft the engine abruptly “shut off.” He completed a forced landing into the field and the airplane sustained damage to the fuselage. An examination of the engine revealed that the No. 1 piston, rings, and cylinder walls were scored and discolored. There was a lack of lubrication within the No. 1 cylinder walls. An analysis of the findings by the engine manufacturer revealed that the engine experienced a piston seizure. Examination of the oil injection system revealed that an oil injection line that supplied oil to the No. 1 cylinder was pinched by the starter motor mounting flange. The pilot recalled that he had performed maintenance in that area about 2 weeks prior and thought that he may have caused the pinched line. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N129AY](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N129AY), registered now, S/N CH2-0206-2719, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Experimental Quad City Challenger II (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Yarberry Manuel CHALLENGER II](https://openairdocs.org/model/yarberry-manuel-challenger-ii) (registry code 05901O0) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503 DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-dcdi) (registry code 55566, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: CH2-0206-2719 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 887 - Engines: Rotax 503-DCDI 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 20, 2019, 21 hours before - Departed: LCI, Laconia, NH - Destination: 8B1, Deering, NH - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 259 total, 25 in this make and model, 254 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 65 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: CON, 15 nm away ## 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 20201003021439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201003021439A), Oct 3, 2020: Yarberry Manuel CHALLENGER II, Northfield, NH, Substantial damage. PIC fueled aircraft with 11 gallons of 100LL avgas. Engine quit in flight, PIC made a successful forced landing in a field. After restarting the engine and… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 26, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102100. 10.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11546801&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20Form%20N129AY_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11569541&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20Inspector%20Francis%20Cartier-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record pilot's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11569480&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20engine%20examination%20N129AY-Rel.pdf - Engine examination photos (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11569031&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Rotax%20503%20DCDI%20SN%20M7078981-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 3 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11570110&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20LA008-Rel.pdf 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.