# NTSB WPR14LA327: David L Thompson Challenger II, N518DT, Winterhaven, CA, August 5, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 5, 2014, 10:20 local (17:20 UTC) - Place: Winterhaven, CA - Coordinates: 32.737777, -114.653335 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7378&lon=-114.6533&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report December 18, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 89801 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14LA327 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89801/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89801 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA327 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power during cruise for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s loss of control during the forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine fuel and control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057300): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [David L Thompson CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057300/cases.md?model=05631IX), [All aircraft, 49 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057300/cases.md) - [Ignition system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057400): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [David L Thompson CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057400/cases.md?model=05631IX), [All aircraft, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057400/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [David L Thompson CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05631IX), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [David L Thompson CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05631IX), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [David L Thompson CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05631IX), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [David L Thompson CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05631IX), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [David L Thompson CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05631IX), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot departed on a cross-country flight and climbed to cruise altitude when the engine suddenly experienced a total loss of power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. During the forced landing approach, at an altitude about 20 ft above ground level, the airplane encountered a wind gust, impacted the ground hard, and nosed over. The 2-cylinder, turbocharged engine was equipped with an electronic engine control unit (ECU) that controlled the ignition and fuel injection systems. While performing the engine prestart sequence during the wreckage examination, the No. 1 electrical system indicated an ignition fault, the source of which could not be determined; the No. 2 electrical system would not activate properly. Several attempts to start the engine were unsuccessful; the engine would stumble, backfire, produce black exhaust, and stop. Examination of the spark plugs revealed that only one plug was firing in each cylinder. The ECU did not contain non-volatile memory, and it could not be determined whether the ECU was functioning properly during the accident flight. Further, examination of the electrical system was not possible due to the damage sustained during the accident; therefore, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On August 5, 2014, about 1020 Pacific daylight time, an experimental, David Thompson, Challenger II, N518DT, collided with terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Winterhaven, California. The private pilot and one passenger sustained serious injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The owner/pilot was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. The cross-country personal flight departed Yuma, Arizona, about 0940, with a planned destination of El Cajon, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported that after refueling at Yuma International Airport (YUM) they departed and climbed to 6,500 feet when the engine suddenly quit. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful. During the landing and while still 20 ft high, the airplane encountered a wind gust, impacted the ground hard, and nosed over. The airplane structure was substantially damaged during the accident sequence, but the engine appeared to be undamaged. The airplane electrical system appeared to be intact, however during the prestart sequence, the number two electrical system would not activate properly. The number one system indicated an ignition fault, which investigators were unable to correct. Several attempts to start the engine were unsuccessful; the engine would stumble, backfire, and stop. Investigators examined the sparkplugs and determined that only one set of the plugs were firing on each cylinder. The engine was flooding out and when the engine would start to run the exhaust was black in color. The Computer Engine Control (CEC) module did not contain nonvolatile memory, and it could not be determined if the CEC was functioning properly. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N518DT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N518DT-2015-01-12), registration cancelled 2015-01-12, S/N CH2-0711-2894, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DAVID L THOMPSON CHALLENGER II - Registry model: [David L Thompson CHALLENGER II](https://openairdocs.org/model/david-l-thompson-challenger-ii) (registry code 05631IX) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: CH2-0711-2894 - Year built: 2012 - Airframe hours: 128 - Engines: HKS E 700 T 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 4, 2014 - Departed: NYL, YUMA, AZ - Destination: SEE, SAN DIEGO/EL CAJON, CA - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 1, 2013; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 813 total, 135 in this make and model, 748 as pilot in command, 32 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 100 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KNYL, 5 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 20140805013099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140805013099A), Aug 5, 2014: David L Thompson CHALLENGER II, Winterhaven, CA, Substantial damage. N518DT a Challenger II crashed just west of Winterhaven, CA near hwy 8 and ogilby rd. passener and pilot were transported to yuma regional medical center.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 9, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89801. 1.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 446 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457866&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Examination Report (item 2, .PDF, 7 photos, 454 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457867&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Examination%20Report-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 3, .PDF, 158 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457868&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-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.