Pilot Debrief

Plante Challenger II near Minneola, FL — 2021-01-21

Final reportERA21LA109
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Date
2021-01-21
Location
Minneola, FL, USA
Aircraft
Plante Challenger II
Registration
N4469Z
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

Failure of the engine/propeller drive belt.

NTSB narrative

The pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane stated that he was on final approach when the airplane “abruptly” turned right 45°, and the flight controls no longer felt normal. The pilot said it was a challenge to maneuver the airplane and, as he attempted to avoid trees, the airplane stalled and impacted the ground. A postaccident examination of the airplane and its two-stroke engine revealed that the belt that connected the engine output sprocket to the propeller drive sprocket had broken. The belt had not been manufactured for use in aircraft. Examination of the edges of the belt revealed that it appeared rubbed with exposed core strands in several areas consistent with lateral travel or tracking and that the belt ultimately broke due to tensile overload failure.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Mechanical failure
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have opted for a go-around earlier instead of attempting to land.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents5

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