Sunday, February 27, 2022

Aerodynamic Stall/Spin: Quad City Challenger II, N438RN; accident occurred February 19, 2022 in Mountain Home, Kerr County, Texas








The pilot does not have a certificate or medical, the aircraft is registered.



Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; San Antonio, Texas

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board:


Location: Mountain Home, Texas
Accident Number: CEN22LA127
Date and Time: February 19, 2022, 11:15 Local
Registration: N438RN
Aircraft: Quad City CHALLENGER II 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Aerodynamic stall/spin
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Analysis

The non-certificated pilot reported that during the initial climb after taking off, he lowered flaps and the airplane pitched up into a nose-high attitude. The pilot reduced power and attempted to land back on the runway, but the airplane exceeded its critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of airplane control at an altitude too low to allow for recovery. The airplane impacted trees and terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right aileron, the left wing strut, and the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or the engine that
would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that he had recently purchased and reassembled the airplane and had performed multiple takeoffs and landings before the accident takeoff. The pilot reported that the nose-high pitch after the flap application was “higher than expected.”

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The non-certificated pilot’s exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of airplane control at too low of an altitude to recover.

Findings

Personnel issues Qualification/certification - Pilot
Personnel issues Aircraft control - Pilot
Personnel issues Task monitoring/vigilance - Pilot
Aircraft Airspeed - Not attained/maintained
Aircraft Angle of attack - Not attained/maintained

Factual Information

History of Flight

Initial climb Aerodynamic stall/spin (Defining event)
Initial climb Loss of control in flight
Initial climb Off-field or emergency landing
Initial climb Collision during takeoff/land

Pilot Information

Certificate: None 
Age: 68,Male
Airplane Rating(s): None
Seat Occupied: Front
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None 
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): None 
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None 
Toxicology Performed:
Medical Certification: None None 
Last FAA Medical Exam:
Occupational Pilot: No 
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: (Estimated) 0 hours (Total, all aircraft), 0 hours (Total, this make and model)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Quad City 
Registration: N438RN
Model/Series: CHALLENGER II NO SERIES
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2012 
Amateur Built:
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental (Special)
Serial Number: CW 2677
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle 
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: June 23, 2017 Annual 
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 960 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 268 Hrs at time of accident 
Engine Manufacturer: Rotax Aircraft Engines
ELT: Not installed 
Engine Model/Series: 503 Series
Registered Owner:
Rated Power: 52 Horsepower
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Does Business As: None
Operator Designator Code: None

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual (VMC)
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KJCT,1749 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 22 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 10:51 Local 
Direction from Accident Site: 315°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 miles
Lowest Ceiling: None 
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 3 knots / 
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: None / None
Wind Direction: 350° 
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: N/A / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 30.44 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 12°C / -4°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Mountain Home, TX
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Mountain Home, TX 
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 
Type of Airspace: Class E

Airport Information

Airport: Private Airstrip None
Runway Surface Type: Grass/turf
Airport Elevation: 2255 ft msl 
Runway Surface Condition: Dry; Rough; Vegetation
Runway Used: 15/33 
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 1200 ft / 50 ft 
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced landing

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 30.249371,-99.465471(est)


Location: Mountain Home, Texas
Accident Number: CEN22LA127
Date and Time: February 19, 2022, 12:10 Local 
Registration: N438RN
Aircraft: Quad City CHALLENGER II 
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: Quad City
Registration: N438RN
Model/Series: CHALLENGER II NO SERIES
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Amateur Built:
Operator: On file 
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None
Operator Designator Code:

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: VMC
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KERV, 1617 ft msl
Observation Time: 12:15 Local
Distance from Accident Site: 19 Nautical Miles
Temperature/Dew Point: 15°C /-5°C
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear 
Wind Speed/Gusts, Direction: 7 knots / , 120°
Lowest Ceiling: None
Visibility: 10 miles
Altimeter Setting: 30.42 inches Hg
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Departure Point: Mountain Home, Texas
Destination: Mountain Home, Texas

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None 
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries:
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: 
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 30.169761,-99.37355 (est)