Experimental QUAD CITY CHALLENGER N129AY

Summary

On 3 October 2020 at about 20:00 local time, a Experimental QUAD CITY CHALLENGER registered N129AY was involved in an accident near Northfield, New Hampshire, 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

3 October 2020 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Northfield, New Hampshire, United States

Coordinates

43.4261, -71.5672

Aircraft

Experimental QUAD CITY CHALLENGER

Registration

N129AY

Category

Airplane

Year built

2006

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Laconia → Deering

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA21LA008

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power due to oil starvation of the No. 1 cylinder. Contributing to the accident was the pinched No. 1 cylinder oil injection line.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, about 15 minutes into the flight, the experimental, amateur-built airplane’s engine “stopped” abruptly without any warning. He performed a forced landing in a hay field, and after landing, examined all engine systems and components. After finding no anomalies, the pilot decided to depart from the field. Shortly after takeoff, the engine again lost total power, and the pilot performed a forced landing, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Examination of the engine revealed damage to the No. 1 cylinder that was consistent with a lack of lubrication. Additionally, examination of the oil injection system revealed that the oil injection line to the No. 1 cylinder was pinched by the starter motor mounting flange. The pilot reported that he had performed maintenance in that area about 2 weeks prior and thought that the pinched oil line may have occurred during this maintenance.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.