# NTSB ERA21LA321: Cubcrafters CC11-160, N825ME, Springfield, TN, August 6, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 6, 2021, 16:20 local (21:20 UTC) - Place: Springfield, TN - Coordinates: 36.536694, -86.921167 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5367&lon=-86.9212&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 103674 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA21LA321 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103674/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103674 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA21LA321 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Cubcrafters CC11-160, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=060006N), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/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: [Cubcrafters CC11-160, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=060006N), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Enroute-descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cubcrafters CC11-160, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=060006N), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that the engine suddenly stopped producing power while climbing at an altitude of about 400 ft above ground level after a touch-and-go landing. With no time to troubleshoot the reason for the loss of power, the pilot performed a forced landing to a field, where the airplane contacted a fence and the fuselage and right wing were substantially damaged. Weather conditions in the area at the time of the accident flight were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power; however, the description of the partial loss of engine power and the phase of flight at which it occurred were not consistent with carburetor icing. A postaccident examination and test run revealed that the engine was able to operate normally. During the examination it was noted that a fuel valve was leaking, though it is likely that this was due to damage sustained during the accident. Additionally, the electronic ignition system backup battery voltage was low. During the engine test run when the main ignition system circuit breakers were deactivated, and with the right side backup ignition selected, the engine lost power (and appropriate annunciations were illuminated on the instrument panel). Given that the pilot did not report any ignition system issues or annunciations, it is unlikely that the voltage issue noted with the backup system played a role in the reported loss of engine power. Based on this information, a reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On August 6, 2021, about 1620 central daylight time, an experimental Cubcrafters Inc., CC11-160, N825ME, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Springfield, Tennessee. The airline transport pilot and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that after refueling with 18 gallons of aviation fuel, the pilot and a passenger took off from Springfield Robertson County Airport (M91) Springfield, Tennessee, and flew to a private airport about 7 nautical miles east. The airplane was performing well and there were no anomalies observed during the flight. After landing and coming to a full stop at the airport, they conducted another takeoff, flew a normal traffic pattern, and conducted a touch-and-go landing. During the subsequent climb, when about 400 ft above ground level, the engine suddenly stopped producing power. The pilot further described that, “there was no sputter or indication, it just stopped.” There was little time to troubleshoot as the airplane was descending quickly and the pilot performed a forced landing in a field. Upon landing, the airplane struck a fence and the landing gear collapsed before the airplane came to rest to rest. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed that the fuselage was fractured and dented in several locations and the leading edge of the right wing was damaged. The fuel tank contained aviation fuel that was clean and free of debris. There was oil in the engine reservoir and no debris or metallic material in the oil filter. The electronic ignition system produced spark on all spark plug electrodes. A download of the Garmin G3X Electronic Flight Instrument System was conducted. The download revealed that at an altitude of about 1,000 ft mean sea level, while climbing about 1,000 ft per minute at a groundspeed of 80 kts, the engine rpm, oil pressure, and exhaust gas temperatures suddenly decreased, followed rapidly by a decrease in fuel flow. There were no associated crew-alerting system alerts recorded during the flight and a review of the most recent maintenance records did not reveal any past irregularity or other anomalous behavior from the engine or other systems. A further examination of the engine and airframe was conducted by a mechanic under the oversight of a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. During the examination and subsequent engine test runs in various configurations the engine operated normally with no anomalous behavior noted. During the engine run, the circuit breakers from the main power supply were disengaged and the right ignition switch was turned off, which resulted in a loss of engine power due to low voltage on the back up battery. A leaking fuel valve was discovered in the fuel system during the examination. At 1532, the weather reported at Outlaw Field Airport (CKV), Clarksville, Tennessee, which was located about 24 nauticalmiles west of the accident site, included a temperature of 29°C and a dew point 17°C. The calculated relative humidity at this temperature and dewpoint was 48 percent. Review of the icing probability chart contained within Federal Aviation Administration Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin CE-09-35 revealed the atmospheric conditions at the time of the accident were "conducive to serious icing at glide [idle] power." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N825ME](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N825ME), registered now, S/N CC11-00372 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CUBCRAFTERS INC CC11-160 - Registry model: [Cubcrafters CC11-160](https://openairdocs.org/model/cubcrafters-cc11-160) (registry code 060006N) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Titan OX-340CC](https://openairdocs.org/engine/titan-ox-340cc) (registry code 59470, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: CC11-00372 - Year built: 2015 - Airframe hours: 267 - Engines: Titan OX-340CC-B3J3N4/D3B004 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Plane Company LLC - Registered owner: Plane Company LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 12, 2021 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: PVT - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Data recorder ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 23, 2020; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 2,732 total, 200 in this make and model, 2,142 as pilot in command, 315 in the last 90 days, 85 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: CKV, 24 nm away - METAR: KCKV 062052Z AUTO 25005KT 10SM CLR 29/17 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP176 T02890172 56014 ## 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 20210806013459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210806013459A), Aug 6, 2021: Cubcrafters Inc CC11-160, Springfield, TN, Substantial damage. Pilot flew to a grass airstrip belonging to a friend and made a full stop approximately 9 miles southeast of M91. After taking off again he flew a pattern… ## Docket (10 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 23, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103674. 28.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12695948&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's supplemental statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 186 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15880565&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation_pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15900995&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspectors statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 809 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12696379&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memo for record - FAA oversight of engine run (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 165 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15906365&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record_FAA_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot logbook excerpt (item 6, PDF, 3 pages, 13.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15874573&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Logbook%20Excerpt_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records excerpt (item 7, PDF, 4 pages, 9.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15895145&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records%20Excerpt_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Post accident examination and test run report_c & d aviation (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15874563&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N825ME%20Post%20Accident%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Garmin G3X tabular data (item 9, XLSX, 755 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15874178&FileExtension=xlsx&FileName=N825ME%20data%20Garmin%20G3X-Rel.xlsx - Photo array_airplane damage and accident site (item 10, PDF, 4 pages, 551 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15895234&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Site%20and%20Damage%20Photographs-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.