# NTSB WPR24LA081: Christopher Randall Raptor Junior 540, N906CR, Camarillo, CA, January 30, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 30, 2024, 13:17 local (21:17 UTC) - Place: Camarillo, CA · cilantro field - Coordinates: 34.1932, -119.00925 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1932&lon=-119.0092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 193732 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/193732/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193732 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA081 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power due to the loss of power to the electronic fuel injection and ignition system, which was the result of a loose connection between a common ground feed-through stud and the ground bus. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Electrical power system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022400): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Christopher Randall RAPTOR JUNIOR 540, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022400/cases.md?model=05641SW), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022400/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Christopher Randall RAPTOR JUNIOR 540, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md?model=05641SW), [All aircraft, 497 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058500/cases.md) - [Electrical power system: electrical pwr sys wiring](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022497): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not serviced/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Christopher Randall RAPTOR JUNIOR 540, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022497/cases.md?model=05641SW), [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. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Christopher Randall RAPTOR JUNIOR 540, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05641SW), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Christopher Randall RAPTOR JUNIOR 540, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05641SW), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis In cruise flight, the pilot noticed a warning indication from the airplane’s avionics display alerting him to a loss of electrical power. Immediately following, the avionics display went dark, followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot attempted to restore electrical power; however, neither the primary nor secondary electrical power was restored. He initiated a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was equipped with an electronic fuel injection and ignition system that required continuous electrical power to operate. Although the airplane was equipped with dual electrical systems for redundancy, both systems shared a common ground. Examination revealed a loose connection between a common ground feed-through stud and the ground bus. This loose connection likely resulted in the loss of electrical power to core aircraft systems, and the subsequent total loss of engine power. No other anomalies were noted with the wreckage that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On January 30, 2024, about 1317 Pacific standard time, an experimental, amateur-built Raptor Junior 540, N906CR, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Camarillo, California. The pilot received serious injuries and the pilot-rated passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, the flight departed Santa Monica Airport, Santa Monica, California, enroute to Camarillo Airport (CMA), Camarillo, California, to conduct touch-and-go landings. About 5 miles southeast of CMA, the pilot noticed a warning indication on the airplane’s avionics display alerting him to a loss of electrical power. He stated that within seconds, the entire display, excluding the Dynon Primary Flight Display, which had a backup battery, “went blank,” followed by a total loss of engine power. The pilot performed emergency procedures to restore electrical and engine power but was unsuccessful. The pilot performed a forced landing to an agricultural field about 4.5 miles southeast of CMA, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was equipped with an electronic fuel injection and ignition system, manufactured by EFII Systems. Electrical system redundancy was accomplished by use of a main and auxiliary system, with two independent batteries and an alternator. The system shared a common ground line that connected the negative terminals for both batteries and was routed through a ground bus located behind the nose cone bulkhead to the engine compartment and engine case. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that the ground feed-through stud that connected the battery ground terminals to the ground bus was loosely connected on the nose cone bulkhead. The feed-through nut was 3.5 turns loose, which corresponded to approximately 3.5 threads of the feed-through stud. (See figure 1.) Additionally, neither a spring lock washer nor a secondary locking nut were present on the feed- through stud assembly, as was found on all other primary electrical connections throughout the airplane. Figure 1. Common ground feed-through stud loosely connected to ground bus. Examination of the engine revealed no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N906CR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N906CR), registered now, S/N CR-001, built 2023 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CHRISTOPHER RANDALL RAPTOR JUNIOR 540 - Registry model: [Christopher Randall RAPTOR JUNIOR 540](https://openairdocs.org/model/christopher-randall-raptor-junior-540) (registry code 05641SW) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-540-C4B5](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-c4b5) (registry code 41651, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: CR-001 - Year built: 2023 - Airframe hours: 12 - Engines: Lycoming IO-540-C4B5 260 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, October 30, 2023, 6 hours before - Departed: KSMO, Santa Monica, CA - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: serious; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 17, 2024; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 10,200 total, 725 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command, 32.4 in the last 90 days, 2.4 in the last 30 days, 0.2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; age 44; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: rear; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,765 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KCMA, 4 nm away - METAR: METAR KCMA 302055Z 30003KT 10SM CLR 19/11 A3001 ## 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 20240130020639A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240130020639A), Jan 30, 2024: Christopher Randall RAPTOR JUNIOR 540, Camarillo, CA, Destroyed. On January 30, 2024 a raptor jr. [privacy data omitted]Departed santa monica airport with two soles on board. The aircraft proceeded in a northwesterly… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 6, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=193732. 8.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (pilot) (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16970340&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24LA081%20Mackie%206120%20flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (pilot rated passenger/builder) (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16968966&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR24LA081%20Randall%206120%20flat_redacted-Rel.pdf - Airframe and engine exam report (item 3, PDF, 8 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16969246&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Airframe%20and%20Engine%20Exam%20Report%20WPR24LA081-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.