WPR22LA158

The pilot reported that he reduced airspeed and lowered the landing gear and flaps while on downwind for the runway. The landing gear and flaps used a single control lever, which he had to “wrestle” with to get into the “locked” position. While he attempted to lower the landing gear and flaps the engine lost all power. He extended the downwind leg so he could attempt to restart the engine. Unable to restore engine power, he turned toward the runway and the airplane impacted trees short of the runway threshold. The pilot later reported, after simulating the accident sequence in the airplane, that while extending the flaps and landing gear, he likely inadvertently closed, or turned off, a switch that controls the engine control unit (ECU), an action which results in an immediate engine stoppage.”

On April 13, 2022, about 1145 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Europa XS Mono airplane, N194XS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Eastsound, Washington. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot reported that, at the completion of a maintenance flight, while on downwind for runway 34, he reduced the airspeed and lowered the landing gear and flaps, which used a single control lever. He stated that he had to “wrestle” with the lever to get it in the “locked” position, and while doing so the engine lost all power. The pilot extended the downwind leg so he could attempt to restart the engine; however, unable to restore engine power, he turned toward the runway. The pilot realized he would not make it to the runway and the airplane impacted trees about 2,000 ft south of the runway threshold, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot later reported, after simulating the accident sequence in the airplane, that he may have inadvertently closed one or both rocker switches that controlled the ECU, ignition coils, or fuel igniters. He stated that when he moved the control stick forward to counteract nose high attitude from lowing the flaps, it would have been possible to close the rocker switch controlling the ECU, “an action which results in an immediate engine stoppage.”