Shaffer Donald ARION LIGHTNING N270J

Summary

On 4 August 2016 at about 22:13 local time, a Shaffer Donald ARION LIGHTNING registered N270J was involved in an accident near Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 August 2016 at 22:13

Classification

Accident

Location

Toughkenamon, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

New Garden (N57)

Coordinates

39.8314, -75.7575

Aircraft

Shaffer Donald ARION LIGHTNING

Registration

N270J

Category

Airplane

Year built

2010

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Toughkenamon → Toughkenamon

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA16LA285

1 person had minor injuries.

A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because examination of the engine did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The sport pilot, who was also the builder of the experimental, amateur-built airplane, stated that, as he was preparing to land the airplane, he reduced the power to idle while turning onto the left base leg, and the engine stopped producing power. The pilot tried to restart the engine several times, but he realized that the airplane was not going to reach the runway, so he attempted to land in a field. The airplane struck a power line and landed hard, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings, firewall, and fuselage. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Although the engine data for the last few minutes of the flight were consistent with a loss of engine power as reported by the pilot, no anomalies were noted that explained the power loss. Therefore, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.