# NTSB WPR16LA179: Mccluskey Challenger II, N6162Y, Bisbee, AZ, September 10, 2016 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 10, 2016, 09:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Bisbee, AZ - Coordinates: 31.358333, -109.876388 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.3583&lon=-109.8764&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-climb to cruise: 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): 93998 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR16LA179 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93998/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93998 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR16LA179 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unknown/Not determined; cases with it: [Mccluskey Bob CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=05602DG), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Mccluskey Bob CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05602DG), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-climb to cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Mccluskey Bob CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05602DG), [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: [Mccluskey Bob CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05602DG), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Mccluskey Bob CHALLENGER II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05602DG), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot performed touch-and-go landings and go-arounds, then flew about two miles from the airport to practice stalls. After performing three stalls, he was climbing the airplane through 800 ft above ground level and returning toward the airport when the engine lost total power. The pilot established best glide speed and attempted to restart the engine to no avail. He made a left turn toward a nearby road, but when he tried to level the wings, the left wing remained low. He applied full control stick and rudder in an attempt to level the wings, but the airplane continued a left slip toward the ground, where it landed hard and slid to a stop. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available information. ## Factual narrative On September 10, 2016, about 0900 mountain standard time, an experimental, amateur-built Challenger II airplane, N6162Y, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Bisbee, Arizona. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that he conducted a few touch-and-go landings followed by two go-arounds. He then flew about 2 miles west of the airport to conduct stalls. On the way back to the airport, while climbing through about 800 feet above ground level, the engine suddenly "shut off" and the airplane’s nose abruptly pitched up. The pilot lowered the nose, established best glide speed, and attempted to restart the engine to no avail. He made a left turn toward a nearby road, but when he tried to level the wings, the left wing remained low. He applied full control stick and rudder in attempt to level the wings, but the airplane continued a left slip toward the ground, landed hard, and slid to a stop, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, left landing gear, and left wing. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined based on available information. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6162Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6162Y-2018-03-27), registration cancelled 2018-03-27, S/N CH2 1093 P1035, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MCCLUSKEY CHALLENGER II - Registry model: [Mccluskey Bob CHALLENGER II](https://openairdocs.org/model/mccluskey-bob-challenger-ii) (registry code 05602DG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: CH2 1093 P1035 - Year built: 1996 - Airframe hours: 328 - Engines: BOMBARDIER ROTAX (ALL) reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 6, 2016 - Departed: Bisbee, AZ - Destination: Bisbee, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea; instrument ratings: helicopter; medical: unknown ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: DUG, 15 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 20160910016419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160910016419A), Sep 10, 2016: Mccluskey Bob CHALLENGER II, Bisbee, AZ, Substantial damage. While conducting pattern work and touch-and-go's the pilot of the experimental amateur built Challenger II airplane performed a forced landed after engine loss… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 17, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93998. 2.8 MB in all. - Record of email - pilot statement (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 165 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11634292&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROE%20pilot%20statement-Rel.pdf - Record of memorandum regarding the NTSB pilot/operator 6120.1 form (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 125 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11921476&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROM%20no%206120-Rel.pdf - On scene photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11908494&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=On%20Scene%20Photos-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.