# NTSB ERA23LA324: Jamros Robert L JR Challenger II, N906WV, Port Orange, FL, August 4, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 4, 2023, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Port Orange, FL · Residential area - Coordinates: 29.088477, -81.079247 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0885&lon=-81.0792&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 192797 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA324 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192797/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA324 ## Probable cause The total loss of engine power due to an out-of-temperature seizure of the PTO cylinder. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Jamros Robert L JR CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=056270N), [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/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: [Jamros Robert L JR CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056270N), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Jamros Robert L JR CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=056270N), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Jamros Robert L JR CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056270N), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported the engine lost power shortly after takeoff, while at an altitude of about 900 ft. The pilot established best glide speed and attempted to restart the engine several times; however, the engine did not regain power. The pilot then performed a forced landing. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted a tree followed by terrain and sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Postaccident examination of the two-stroke engine revealed that the power take-off (PTO) cylinder had significant scoring along the cylinder walls, which was consistent with the cylinder being subjected to an out-of-temperature seizure. No further anomalies or mechanical failures were observed that would have prevented normal operation. Given that the visible signatures of a hot seizure and a cold seizure of a cylinder are the same, the type of seizure could not be determined with the available information. ## Factual narrative On August 4, 2023, about 1030 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Challenger II, N906WV, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident in Port Orange, Florida. The pilot sustained serious injuries and the passenger incurred minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot and passenger departed Spruce Creek Fly-In (7FL6), Port Orange, Florida, for Deland Municipal Airport (DED), DeLand, Florida. Shortly after departure, when the airplane reached about 900 ft above ground level, the engine lost power. The pilot established best glide speed and attempted to restart the engine several times; however, the engine did not regain power. The pilot performed a forced landing, during which the airplane impacted a tree and terrain. Examination of the wreckage at the accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the wreckage came to rest inverted in a residential area about 2 miles from 7FL6. Examination of the airplane revealed that the fuselage and wings sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the two-cylinder, two-stroke engine revealed that PTO cylinder displayed significant scoring along the cylinder walls, consistent with the cylinder and piston being subjected to an out-of-temperature seize condition. An examination of the coolant pump, radiator, and coolant hoses revealed no anomalies that would have prevented normal operation of the coolant system. The radiator was noted to have adjustable louvers to facilitate changing the amount of cooling air flowing through the radiator fins. The louvers were noted to be near the fully closed position. The magneto cylinder and the rest of the engine displayed normal operating signatures. The examination of the airframe revealed no anomalies or mechanical failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N906WV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N906WV-2024-08-05), registration cancelled 2024-08-05, S/N CH2-1008-2852, built 2009 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: JAMROS ROBERT L JR CHALLENGER II - Registry model: [Jamros Robert L JR CHALLENGER II](https://openairdocs.org/model/jamros-robert-l-jr-challenger-ii) (registry code 056270N) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582UL-99](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ul-99) (registry code 55559, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: CH2-1008-2852 - Year built: 2009 - Airframe hours: 543 - Engines: Rotax 582UL 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 10, 2023, 43 hours before - Departed: 7FL6, Port Orange, FL - Destination: DED, DeLand, FL - Airport: 7FL6, Spruce Creek Airport - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 75; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 27, 2021; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,334.5 total, 130.9 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: DAB, 5 nm away - METAR: KDAB 041453Z 16006KT 10SM SCT030 SCT110 31/23 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP160 T03110233 53005 $ ## 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 20230804015379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230804015379A), Aug 4, 2023: Jamros Robert L Jr CHALLENGER II, Port Orange, FL, Substantial damage. Aircraft departed (7FL6) after arriving from (kded) with no reported problems and on climb at approxiametly 950 feet AGL the engine lost power with no apparnt… 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.