Irlbeck Thomas H RV 8 N214FF

Summary

On 29 May 2018 at about 00:45 local time, a Irlbeck Thomas H RV 8 registered N214FF was involved in an accident near Somerset, Wisconsin, United States. 2 people were 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

29 May 2018 at 00:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Somerset, Wisconsin, United States

Coordinates

45.1417, -92.7025

Aircraft

Irlbeck Thomas H RV 8

Registration

N214FF

Category

Airplane

Year built

1988

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lake Elmo → Osceola

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Night

NTSB number

CEN18LA200

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power due to damaged and disconnected electronic ignition wires from both the main and backup batteries, which resulted in a forced landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, while in cruise flight in the experimental, amateur-built airplane, the radio and GPS lights flickered, followed by a total loss of engine power. He attempted to troubleshoot the loss of power and then conducted a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane impacted a fence; the wings were substantially damaged. Examination revealed that the wire connection from the main battery to the engine's electronic ignition had melted just above the terminal attachment. Although the airplane was equipped with a backup battery, the connection from the backup battery to the ignition was disconnected, which pre and the wire connection from the electronic ignition to the backup battery was not connected to the battery terminal. While the melted wire that connected the main battery to the electronic ignition would still have allowed power to the electronic ignition from the backup battery, the lack of connection to the backup battery provided no power to the electronic ignition and resulted in the total loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.