Hoyle FIGHTER ESCORT WINGS N2051P

Summary

On 23 June 2012 at about 14:30 local time, a Hoyle FIGHTER ESCORT WINGS registered N2051P, operated by Clifford L. Hoyle, was involved in an accident near Pueblo, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 June 2012 at 14:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Pueblo, Colorado, United States

Coordinates

38.2892, -104.4964

Aircraft

Hoyle FIGHTER ESCORT WINGS

Registration

N2051P

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Clifford L. Hoyle

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Flight Test

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Pueblo → Pueblo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN12LA389

Nobody was injured.

An internal failure of one of the electrical system’s two batteries combined with the inadequate electrical system design, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that there was an electrical system failure during the cruise portion of the test flight, which resulted in insufficient voltage to maintain engine operation using either the primary or secondary battery circuits. Following the total loss of engine power, the pilot elected to perform a wheels-up landing on a gravel road. The non-certificated automobile engine that was installed in the airplane was equipped with a computer-controlled electronic ignition system and high-pressure fuel pumps. According to the pilot/builder, the airplane incorporated two 12-volt batteries wired in parallel to supply voltage to the main power bus to power the engine systems. Postaccident examination revealed that the primary battery had an internal short and would not take a charge. The secondary battery was found below normal service voltage, but could be recharged. Postaccident testing revealed that the two batteries were not isolated from each other; as a result, an internal short of one of the two batteries could drain the other battery’s charge. No anomalies were found with the remaining electrical system components or wiring paths.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.