Pilot Debrief

CANION MICHAEL W ZODIAC 601XL near Grady, AR — 2017-07-20

Final reportCEN17LA313
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Date
2017-07-20
Location
Grady, AR, USA
Aircraft
CANION MICHAEL W ZODIAC 601XL
Registration
N577M
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Cruise

Probable cause

The loss of engine power due to a lack of ignition resulting from a broken alternator wire.

NTSB narrative

The sport pilot was conducting a cross-country flight when the experimental amateur-built airplane experienced a loss of engine power; the pilot then conducted a forced landing to a field, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed a broken wire to the airplane's alternator; this specific wire supplied electrical power to the alternator field coil. Because the wire was broken, the alternator was rendered inoperative. The pilot would not have been able to detect the broken alternator wire without removing the engine cowl, which is not normally part of a pilot's preflight examination. The airplane's engine had been modified to use an ignition system that operated from the airplane's electrical system, which included a battery and the alternator to maintain the battery's charge. Once the alternator field wire had broken, the ignition system relied completely on the airplane battery's reserve power as the source of ignition power. Once the battery power was depleted, the ignition system could not operate, and the engine lost power due to the lack of ignition.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have checked electrical system before flight to prevent power loss.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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