Crossville Memorial Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Crossville, Tennessee 38555
Friday, February 6, 2009 15:00 CST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot of the amateur-built airplane was initiating a test flight to check a new propeller. After advancing the throttle, the airplane accelerated with normal power. However, at an altitude of 300 feet, the engine lost total power. The pilot turned back to the departure runway and landed on soft ground to the south of the runway. The landing gear collapsed, substantially damaging the firewall. Examination of the airplane revealed that continuity existed throughout the engine drivetrain, and the engine had no visible damage. The fuel was sampled and no contamination was observed. Examination of the fuel filter revealed no obstructions, the fuel pump operated normally, and the air filter was clean. The spark plugs were determined to be functional; however, no electrical energy was being delivered to the spark plugs. Further examination revealed that the electronic control unit (ECU) was not transmitting voltage to the dual coils. The ECU was manufactured to automotive specifications, and was supposed to be installed in an area of the airplane where temperatures do not exceed 65 degrees Celsius (preferably on the cabin side of the firewall). The ECU on the accident airplane was installed on the engine side of the firewall.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power during initial climb due to the failure of the ignition power supply as a result of the improper installation of the electronic control unit.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/6/2009
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Central Standard Time
Event City Crossville
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 38555
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 355704N
Event Location Longitude 0850506W
Event Location Airport Crossville Memorial Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID CSV
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1500 Central Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID CSV
Elevation of weather observation facility 1881
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation CST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 14
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.32
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 25114
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern Region ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 26 2009 4:00PM
User who most recently changed record grer
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N555SX
NTSB Number ERA09CA162
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Davis
Aircraft Model Sonex
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 523
Certified Max Gross Weight 1200
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft --
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Oct 1 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 259
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name John S. Davis
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Crossville
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 38555
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name John S. Davis
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Crossville
Operator State TN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 38555
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Flight Test
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code CSV
Departure City Crossville
Departure State TN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone CST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code CSV
Destination City Crossville
Destination State TN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 26 2009 3:56PM
User who most recently changed record grer
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 26
Runway Length 5100
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --