- Date
- April 10, 2002, 08:30 local (15:30 UTC)
- Place
- Gila Bend, AZ
- Injuries
- 1 serious, 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- UNREGCox Aeros Ltd Skyranger
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 25, 2003
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA
- Case key
- 54510
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
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Probable cause
The failure of the engine for undetermined reasons.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
An unregistered, experimental homebuilt aircraft collided with the ground during a forced landing after an engine failure. The airplane was not issued a waiver as required for operation by Part 103 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. After departing to practice touch-and-go's the engine lost power; consequently, the pilot made a forced landing in the rough, desert terrain. Upon touchdown, the nosegear collapsed and the cowling and windshield were damaged. The speed of the airplane was between 40-45 miles per hour.
Factual narrative
On April 10, 2002, about 0830 mountain standard time, an unregistered, experimental homebuilt Cox Aeros Ltd. Skyranger, collided with the ground during a forced landing at Gila Bend, Arizona. The owner/operator was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger sustained serious injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The purpose of the flight was to practice touch-and-go landings. Day visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no visual flight rules (VFR) flight plan had been filed.
Through a written statement, the pilot stated that after departing runway 22 to practice touch-and-go's, approximately 300 yards beyond the end of the runway a computer malfunction resulted in instant shutdown of the engine; consequently, the pilot made a forced landing in the rough, desert terrain. The pilot further stated that upon touchdown, the nosegear collapsed and the cowling and windshield were damaged. The speed of the airplane was between 40-45 miles per hour.
According to a local law enforcement report, the pilot had departed to the west from the municipal airport. The runway is oriented 040/220 degrees, according to the Southwest U.S. Airport/Facility Directory. About 150 to 200 feet above the ground (agl), the engine lost power and a forced landing ensued.
According to the engine manufacturer, if the computer does not receive power from the battery, the engine will quit.
The two-place ultralight trainer airplane was registered with the United States Ultralight Association but the owner/operator did not apply for a waiver as required by Federal Aviation Regulations Part 103.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Cox Aeros Ltd Skyranger
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- SK1035
- Airframe hours
- 35
- Engine
- Hirth 2706E06A, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Fred W. Cox
- Departed
- E63 · Gila Bend, AZ
- Airport
- E63 · Gila Bend, runway 22, 5,200 × 75 ft, asphalt
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 63
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine land, Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Last flight review
- January 1, 2002
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,500 total · 35 in this make and model · 35 in the last 90 days · 15 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 34 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.04 inHg
- Observed at
- GBN, 3 nm away
Docket · 6
The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 19, 2003, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 633 KB in all.