# NTSB WPR16LA129: Burkes BR-1, N677DB, Brigham City, UT, June 22, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 22, 2016, 08:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Brigham City, UT - Coordinates: 41.190555, -112.007774 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1906&lon=-112.0078&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 93429 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR16LA129 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93429/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93429 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA129 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power as a result of a failure of the primary and backup ignition system. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Ignition system: ignition system wiring](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057497): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Burkes Dwight BURKES ROGUE BR-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057497/cases.md?model=05619KL), [All aircraft, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057497/cases.md) - [Electrical power system: electrical pwr sys wiring](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022497): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Burkes Dwight BURKES ROGUE BR-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022497/cases.md?model=05619KL), [All aircraft, 44 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022497/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Burkes Dwight BURKES ROGUE BR-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05619KL), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis 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. ## Factual narrative 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. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N677DB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N677DB-2022-04-27), registration cancelled 2022-04-27, S/N 0001, built 2011 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BURKES BR-1 - Registry model: [Burkes Dwight BURKES ROGUE BR-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/burkes-dwight-burkes-rogue-br-1) (registry code 05619KL) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0001 - Year built: 2011 - Airframe hours: 2 - Engines: BURKES GTSIV-120XR 400 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 18, 2016, 1 hours before - Departed: OGD, Ogden, UT - Destination: OGD, Ogden, UT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 11, 2016; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,051 total, 2 in this make and model, 19 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: OGD, 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 20160622020129A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160622020129A), Jun 22, 2016: Burkes Dwight BURKES ROGUE BR-1, Brigham City, UT, Substantial damage. Departed ogden airport (ogd) ogden Utah, and while performing performance (VMC)testing at 8500 MSL with the landing gear locked in the extended position, the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93429. 9.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 7.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=5214951&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of email - ignition system exam (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 484 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=5221321&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROE%20FAA-Rel.pdf - Postaccident photos of the airplane (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9885579&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photos-Rel.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.