# NTSB LAX04LA140: Alan Wilson Tandum Air Bike, N240JC, Elko, NV, February 29, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 29, 2004, 09:20 local (17:20 UTC) - Place: Elko, NV - Coordinates: 40.641666, -115.709999 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6417&lon=-115.7100&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 8, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 58825 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX04LA140 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58825/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA140 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to the failure of an ignition system component. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - normal - ignition system,ignition coil - failure (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - berm ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N240JC-2006-12-21), registration cancelled 2006-12-21, S/N AW002, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Alan Wilson Tandum Air Bike - Registry model: [Wilson Alan TANDUM AIR BIKE](https://openairdocs.org/model/wilson-alan-tandum-air-bike) (registry code 05607N0) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Subaru ALL MDLS A/B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/subaru-all-mdls-a-b) (registry code 59050, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: AW002 - Airframe hours: 270 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20040229003189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040229003189A), Feb 29, 2004: Amtr AIRBIKE, Elko, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) On 02/29/04, 0920 PST, this experimental home-built wilson alan tandum air bike, N240JC, experienced a total loss of engine power while cruising about… 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.