- Date
- February 29, 2004, 09:20 local (17:20 UTC)
- Place
- Elko, NV
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N240JCAlan Wilson Tandum Air Bike
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 8, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Federal Aviation Administration
- FAA report
- 20040229003189A
- Case key
- 58825
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to the failure of an ignition system component.
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
During cruise flight the experimental airplane's engine lost all power. The pilot made a forced landing in a field. During rollout the airplane collided with a snow berm. An examination of the engine by the airplane owner revealed its ignition system's electrical coil had failed. The pilot was the airplane's manufacturer.
Factual narrative
On February 29, 2004, about 0920 Pacific standard time, a Wilson Tandum Air Bike, N240JC, experienced a total loss of engine power while cruising about 12 miles south of Elko, Nevada. The pilot made a forced landing in an open field. During rollout, the airplane collided with a snow berm and was substantially damaged. Neither the private pilot nor the passenger was injured. The airplane owner-pilot had constructed the conventional gear experimental category airplane, which he was operating during the mishap. The personal flight was performed in visual meteorological conditions under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from Elko about 0820.
In the pilot's completed "Aircraft Accident Report," NTSB Form 6120.1/2, he indicated that during the flight the engine's speed decreased about 50 revolutions per minute (rpm), at which time he headed back toward Elko. Thereafter, all engine power was lost. The pilot stated that he was unable to glide to the airport, so he made a forced landing in a nearby clearing.
During the pilot's subsequent examination of his homebuilt airplane, he indicated that its 85-horsepower Subaru engine's ignition system electric coil had probably failed. The total time on the engine and the coil was 270 hours.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N240JC
- Reported as
- Alan Wilson Tandum Air Bike
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- AW002
- Airframe hours
- 270
- Engine
- Subaru EA81, 85 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Alan Wilson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · August 30, 2003 · 77 hours before
- Departed
- EKO · Elko, NV
- Destination
- EKO
- Airport
- EKO · Elko Regional
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Last flight review
- February 2, 2002
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 475 total · 270 in this make and model · 475 as pilot in command · 45 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 200° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 34 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.03 inHg
- Observed at
- ELK, 12 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.