Sonex SONEX N569SX

Summary

On 10 September 2023 at about 16:00 local time, a Sonex SONEX registered N569SX was involved in an accident near Dowagiac, Michigan, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 September 2023 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Dowagiac, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Dowagiac Municipal (C91)

Coordinates

42.0472, -86.0931

Aircraft

Sonex SONEX

Registration

N569SX

Category

Airplane

Year built

2005

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Dowagiac → Dowagiac

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN23FA410

1 person died.

The total loss of engine power due to the failure of the ignition distributor rotor.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed for a local flight and an alert notice (ALNOT) was issued when the pilot did not return. A search effort concluded four days later when the wreckage was found in a heavily wooded area about 4 miles from the departure airport. No ADS-B data associated with the airplane, or the accident flight was available. At the time of the on-scene examination, the transponder was observed in the OFF position. Impact signatures on the propeller were consistent with the propeller not rotating at impact. Examination of the engine revealed that the ignition distributor rotor was fractured and disconnected from its driveshaft. This resulted in a total loss of engine power when the ignition system became inoperative due to the rotor failure. No other preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures were found with the airframe or engine.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.