SEA07LA173

While in cruise flight at 3,500 feet above ground level (agl), the engine of the light sport aircraft suddenly quit. The pilot therefore attempted to land the aircraft in a nearby open field. Although the initial touchdown was uneventful, during the landing roll the aircraft encountered a ditch and flipped over onto its back. A post-accident teardown of the 50 horsepower non-certificated two-cycle Hirth engine revealed that the crankshaft had fractured into two pieces.

On June 19, 2007, approximately 0930 mountain daylight time, a Halsted Flightstar Pioneer light sport aircraft, N8003U, flipped over during an engine-out emergency landing about 10 miles southeast of Nampa, Idaho. The student pilot, who was the sole occupant, received minor injuries, and the aircraft, which is owned and operated by the student pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight, which departed Nampa, Idaho, about 90 minutes prior to the accident, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed.

According to the pilot, while he was in cruise flight at 3,500 feet above ground level (agl), the engine suddenly quit. He therefore attempted to land the aircraft in a nearby open field. Although the initial touchdown was uneventful, during the landing roll the aircraft encountered a ditch and flipped over onto its back.

The owner's post-accident teardown of the 50 horsepower non-certificated two-cycle Hirth engine revealed that the crankshaft had fractured into two separate pieces.