# NTSB GAA16CA322: Marks Steven Challenger, N7058U, Marion, WI, June 18, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 18, 2016, 09:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Marion, WI - Coordinates: 44.670833, -88.889167 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6708&lon=-88.8892&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 5, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - NTSB case key (mKey): 93417 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA322 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93417/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93417 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA322 ## Probable cause The failure of the airplane engine drive belt during the takeoff, resulting in a forced landing and impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Propeller system: propeller controlling system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046120): Aircraft › Aircraft propeller/rotor · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Marks Steven CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046120/cases.md?model=05902R4), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01046120/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340) (defining event); cases with it: [Marks Steven CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=05902R4), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Marks Steven CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05902R4), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspector, the pilot of the Experimental Amateur Built airplane departed from a private airstrip. During the takeoff initial climb, the airplane lost engine power and force landed in a field. The FAA Inspector reported that the airplane was equipped with an older cog engine drive belt that failed during takeoff. The airplane impacted the ground and sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The National Transportation Safety Board Air Safety Investigator-in charge attempted on multiple occasions to contact the pilot and the pilot's son, to whom the airplane was registered. The FAA Inspector was unable to contact the pilot, but he was able to speak with the pilot's son who was informed by the inspector to call the NTSB Investigator-in-charge; to no avail. ## Factual narrative According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspector, the pilot of the Experimental Amateur Built airplane departed from a private airstrip. During the takeoff initial climb, the airplane lost engine power and force landed in a field. The FAA Inspector reported that the airplane was equipped with an older cog engine drive belt that failed during takeoff. The airplane impacted the ground and sustained substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The National Transportation Safety Board Air Safety Investigator-in charge attempted on multiple occasions to contact the pilot and the pilot's son, to whom the airplane was registered. The FAA Inspector was unable to contact the pilot, but he was able to speak with the pilot's son who was informed by the inspector to call the NTSB Investigator-in-charge; to no avail. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7058U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7058U), registered now, S/N CH2-1000-2021 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MARKS STEVEN CHALLENGER (II) - Registry model: [Marks Steven CHALLENGER II](https://openairdocs.org/model/marks-steven-challenger-ii) (registry code 05902R4) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582dcdi) (registry code 55562, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: CH2-1000-2021 - Year built: 2002 - Airframe hours: 543 - Engines: ROTAX 582DCDI 64 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 1, 2015 - Departed: Marion, WI - Destination: Marion, WI - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 86; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 2,342 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 59 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: KCLI, 8 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 20160618009569A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160618009569A), Jun 18, 2016: Marks Steven CHALLENGER II, Marion, WI, Destroyed. Experimental amatuer built aircraft crashed into a field after losing power to the propeller. Quad city aircraft corporation that builds the parts for the… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 3, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93417. 112 KB in all. - FAA Inspector's Record of Conversation and Statement (item 1, .PDF, 112 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40446080&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Record%20of%20Conversation%20and%20Statement-Master.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.