Pilot Debrief

Murphy Renegade II near Sheridan, IL — 2021-09-05

Final reportCEN21LA402
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Date
2021-09-05
Location
Sheridan, IL, USA
Aircraft
Murphy Renegade II
Registration
N490DJ
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

A total loss of engine power during initial climb due to a piston seizure.

NTSB narrative

The pilot and passenger were conducting “fast taxi” operations and did not intend to fly the airplane, but, after the airplane’s tail became airborne, the pilot decided to continue the takeoff. When the airplane was about 500 ft above ground level, he heard a “click” before the engine lost total power. The pilot made a forced landing in a soybean field, during which the airplane nosed over shortly after touchdown. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the upper right wing and an engine mount tube. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that one of the two pistons, the magneto-side piston, had seized in the cylinder. The piston and cylinder bore exhibited scrape marks consistent with a piston seizure, and piston and ring material was missing with associated batter to the cylinder head, piston dome, and spark plug. The other, power-takeoff piston and cylinder exhibited no evidence of a piston seizure. Other than the magneto-side piston seizure and associated secondary damage, the engine exhibited no evidence of a mechanical malfunction that would have prevented normal operation. Thus, the total loss of engine power during initial climb was likely due to the piston seizure.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot should have aborted takeoff after tail became airborne.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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