# NTSB ERA23LA231: Charles D Walker Walker Curtiss JN4D, N8262, Greenville, KY, May 15, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 15, 2023, 17:13 local (22:13 UTC) - Place: Greenville, KY - Coordinates: 37.256937, -87.215945 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2569&lon=-87.2159&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 174539 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA231 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/174539/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=174539 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA231 ## Probable cause The separation of an electrical wire that powered the ignition module, rendering the ignition system inoperative, and resulting in the total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Ignition system: ignition system wiring](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057497): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Charles D Walker WALKER CURTISS JN4D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057497/cases.md?model=05632UK), [All aircraft, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057497/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Charles D Walker WALKER CURTISS JN4D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=05632UK), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341); cases with it: [Charles D Walker WALKER CURTISS JN4D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05632UK), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Charles D Walker WALKER CURTISS JN4D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05632UK), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Charles D Walker WALKER CURTISS JN4D, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05632UK), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff during a personal flight, the pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane reported that the engine lost all power suddenly. He was able to briefly restart the engine for several seconds after several attempts, but it lost power gain. He maneuvered for a forced landing to nearby field and the airplane’s wings and fuselage were substantially damaged during the subsequent landing. Postaccident examination of the engine’s ignition system revealed the power supply electrical wire from the distributor to the ignition module was separated at the connection at the distributor. Further, a secondary locking device was not present on the separated electrical connector. Thus, the separation of the electrical wire that powered the ignition module served as a single-point failure that disabled the ignition system. ## Factual narrative On May 15, 2023, about 1713 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Walker-Curtiss JN4D, N8262, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Greenville, Kentucky. The private 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 three legs had been flown earlier that day with no reported engine issues. After landing at the third airport, he filled the fuel tank for his final flight leg and performed a preflight inspection of the airplane. The flight departed Madisonville Regional Airport (2I0), Madisonville, Kentucky, about 1700. About 10 minutes after takeoff, while flying at 1,500 ft above ground level (agl), the engine suddenly stopped “as if it were turned off.” He tried to restart the engine multiple times, and on the third attempt it started and operated to full power for about 10 seconds, and then it stopped again. He again tried to restart the engine but was unable. At that point the airplane was over rolling hills. He saw a logging road and a field, but initially opted to attempt to land on the logging road because recovery of the airplane might be easier. When the airplane got closer to the logging road, he saw stumps and opted to divert to the nearby field, which had been a strip mine. He performed a three-point landing in the field and the airplane skipped; after a second touchdown, something contacted the main landing gear, and it separated from the airplane. The airplane came to rest with the empennage twisted to the left, the right lower wing was torn off about 2 ft outboard from the wing root, and the landing gear were sheared off. Operational testing of the engine ignition system following recovery of the airplane revealed electrical power to the distributor, but there was no electrical power from the distributor to the ignition module. Inspection of the distributor revealed that the female spade electrical terminal connector of the red colored (power) electrical wire was separated from the plastic connector and also from its mating male connector at the distributor. Close inspection of the female spade electrical connector and plastic connector revealed that there was no positive locking resistance of the female spade terminal electrical connector inside the plastic connector. The female spade electrical connector of the separated wire was placed on its mating male connector at the distributor and the connection was tight. There was no secondary locking device on the electrical connector at the distributor to prevent a single-point failure. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8262](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8262), registered now, S/N WC001, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHARLES D WALKER WALKER CURTISS JN4D (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Charles D Walker WALKER CURTISS JN4D](https://openairdocs.org/model/charles-d-walker-walker-curtiss-jn4d) (registry code 05632UK) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [GM ECO TEC 2.4L](https://openairdocs.org/engine/gm-eco-tec-2-4l) (registry code 30900, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: WC001 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 413.1 - Engines: General Motors 350 157 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 1, 2022, 47 hours before - Departed: 2I0, Madisonville, KY - Destination: BWG, Bowling Green, KY - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 26, 2023; seat: rear; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,115 total, 440 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days - Pilot-rated passenger; age 69; injuries: none; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 14, 2023; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 33,310 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KBWG, 42 nm away - METAR: KBWG 152153Z AUTO 02003KT 10SM SCT049 29/19 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP183 T02890189 ## 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 20230515010619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230515010619A), May 15, 2023: Charles D Walker WALKER CURTISS JN4D, Greenville, KY, Substantial damage. Aircraft had completed 3 1-hour flights on return from airshow at scott a.f.b. refueled aircraft at madisonville regional airport, KY (K2I0) and departed for… ## Other investigations on N8262 (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 GAA17CA488](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA488), Aug 12, 2017: Charles D Walker Walker Curtiss JN4D (N8262), Bowling Green, KY, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s exceedance of the biplane’s critical angle of attack during initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and collision with trees. ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 5, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=174539. 7.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 3.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15812093&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Jenny%20Report_Recd%206%2017%202023_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 - from pilot-rated passenger (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15826887&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20Fm%20Pilot%20Rated%20Passenger_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of NTSB conversation (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 173 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15811932&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FINAL%20Record%20of%20Convo%20w%20Charles%20D%20Walker%206%2012%202023%20v02%20w%20Corrctns_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record - engine examination results (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 1 photo, 341 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16462899&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memo%20For%20Record%20-%20Engine%20Examination%20Results%20v01-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16462994&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs%20v01-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 550 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15828229&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fully%20Executed%20NTSB%20Wreckage%20Release_Redacted-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.