WPR16LA129

The experimental amateur-built airplane was being flown to test airplane maneuvers. The pilot reported that about 20 minutes after takeoff, the engine lost complete power. An annunciation light indicated that the primary ignition system was not operating, so the pilot switched to the backup ignition system and then the backup battery, but the engine did not respond. The pilot executed a landing into a field. During landing the landing gear caught in the rough, soft ground, and the airplane cartwheeled. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed a short circuit in the primary ignition system, but the source of the short circuit could not be determined. Although the ignition system had both a backup power source and backup ignition coils, they shared a common power bus with the primary ignition system. A short circuit of this bus would have rendered both the primary and backup ignition sources inoperable.

On June 22, 2016, about 0800 mountain daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Burkes BR-1 airplane, N677DB, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Brigham City, Utah. The airline transport pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was being flown as part of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Phase 1 Operating Limitations, which required 40 hours of flight within a defined geographic area. According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to perform flight test maneuvers. The airplane was equipped with a V8 automobile engine converted for aviation use. It incorporated a dual ignition system, which included two sets of ignition batteries, points, and coils. The system was designed such that the pilot could select either the left (primary) or right (secondary) ignition coil. Likewise, power to the entire ignition system was provided through either the main airplane battery, or a dedicated ignition battery, through a switch and battery isolator. Power between the dual battery and dual ignition coils was shared by a single power bus. About 20 minutes into the flight, without warning, the engine lost complete power. The pilot observed that an illuminated light on the instrument panel indicated power to the primary ignition coil was off. He turned toward a nearby airport and attempted to restart the engine after switching to the secondary coil, and then the dedicated battery, but the engine would not restart. The pilot executed a landing into a field. During landing the landing gear caught in the rough, soft ground, and the airplane cartwheeled. Postaccident examination by an FAA inspector revealed a short circuit between the aircraft system battery terminal of the ignition switch and the airframe ground. No other troubleshooting was performed.