# NTSB WPR20LA116: TL Ultralight Sro Stingsport, N7997N, Hurricane, UT, March 28, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 28, 2020, 14:47 local (20:47 UTC) - Place: Hurricane, UT - Coordinates: 37.140277, -113.30611 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1403&lon=-113.3061&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101133 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR20LA116 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101133/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101133 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA116 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to the failure of the ignition system as a result of foreign object damage. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Ignition system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057400): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [TL Ultralight Sro STINGSPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057400/cases.md?model=060001R), [All aircraft, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057400/cases.md) - [Ignition system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057400): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [TL Ultralight Sro STINGSPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057400/cases.md?model=060001R), [All aircraft, 18 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057400/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [TL Ultralight Sro STINGSPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=060001R), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff on a local flight, about 250 ft above ground level, the airplane’s engine abruptly lost power. The pilot attempted to land on the remaining runway but landed long and touched down in a field. During the landing sequence, the airplane bounced, which resulted in the collapse of the landing gear and the airplane skidding to a stop. Examination of the engine revealed damage to the ignition system’s charging coils consistent with foreign object damage. Testing of the charging coils determined they were inoperative, likely due to the foreign object damage. The failure of both ignition charging coils would result in the loss of engine power. The source of the foreign object damage could not be determined. No other anomalies were noted. ## Factual narrative On March 28, 2020, about 1447 mountain daylight time, a TL Ultralight SRO Stingsport airplane, N7997N, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at the General Dick Stout Field Airport (1L8), Hurricane, Utah. The commercial pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, personal flight. According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff and about 250 ft above ground level, the engine abruptly lost power. The pilot attempted to land on the remaining runway but was unable and touched down in a field. During the landing sequence, the airplane bounced, which resulted in the collapse of the landing gear and the airplane skidding to a stop. Examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration-certified mechanic revealed no anomalies with the engine except for the ignition system. The ignition system was observed to have damage to the stator assembly. The ignition system was removed and sent to the engine manufacturer for examination. The ignition consisted of a stator assembly, magneto ring, flywheel hub, and associated electronic modules and coils. Examination of the stator assembly revealed that the component had sustained damage to the only two independent ignition charging coils that were attached to the assembly. The damage on the ignition charging coils was consistent with foreign object damage. The ignition charging coils were tested and failed and were determined to be nonfunctional. The failure of both ignition charging coils would result in the loss of engine power. Additional examination of the magneto ring revealed gouges and scoring marks that were consistent with foreign object damage. The ignition charging coils were positioned below the area where the scoring and gouges of the magneto ring were observed. No remnants of the foreign object damage remained, and its source was unable to be determined. All the other ignition components were examined and tested, and no anomalies were noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7997N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7997N-2021-02-09), registration cancelled 2021-02-09, S/N TLUSA136, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TL Ultralight SRO Stingsport - Registry model: [TL Ultralight Sro STINGSPORT](https://openairdocs.org/model/tl-ultralight-sro-stingsport) (registry code 060001R) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: TLUSA136 - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 785.1 - Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 15, 2019, 32 hours before - Departed: 1L8, Hurricane, UT - Destination: 1L8, Hurricane, UT - Airport: 1L8, General Dick Stout Field, runway 19, 3,283 × 40 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS, Onboard weather, ADS-B, Airframe parachute, Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 25, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,001.7 total, 82.3 in this make and model, 920.1 as pilot in command, 13.5 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 21 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KSGU, 12 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 20200328000879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200328000879A), Mar 28, 2020: Tl Ultralight Sro STINGSPORT, Hurricane, UT, Substantial damage. Crashed just off end of runway just after departure, just after engine sputtered and cut out. PIC stated, run-up was normal, with a mag drop well within Rotax… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 12, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101133. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 810 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13640040&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20form%206120-1_Redacted-Rel-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 111 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13435608&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20WPR20LA116%20Final-Rel.pdf - Record of email (July 10, 2020) (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13434213&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Email%20WPR20LA116%20Final-Rel.pdf - Record of email (March 22, 2022) (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 750 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13521656&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Email%202%20WPR20LA161-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 5, PDF, 1 page, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13339163&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20release%20form_Redacted-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.