Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37127
Friday, August 7, 2009 11:35 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane, about 15 minutes after departing the airport, and while flying approximately 1,000 feet above ground level, the engine lost power. The pilot immediately established the airplane in a glide, and began looking for a suitable landing site. He asked the passenger to attempt an engine restart, but the passenger was not successful. The pilot subsequently performed a forced landing to a pasture, which caused the nose landing gear to buckle and resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the alternator drive gear had sheared and jammed the accessory drive gears. Additionally, the alternator drive gear retaining nut did not have a cotter pin locking device installed, likely allowing the nut to back off. The airframe had accumulated 43 total hours since being assembled and the engine had accumulated 46 total hours since the most recent overhaul.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A total loss of engine power due to the improper installation of the alternator drive gear.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/7/2009
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1135
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Murfreesboro
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37127
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 355836N
Event Location Longitude 0862125W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
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 1056 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 330
Weather Observation Facility ID MQY
Elevation of weather observation facility 543
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 11
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
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) 6
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 31
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.18
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26647
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern 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 19 2010 11:08AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N75644
NTSB Number ERA09LA446
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 LOBB KENNETH
Aircraft Model CH 701
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 7008
Certified Max Gross Weight 1100
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Aug 1 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 44
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EGELHOFF LARRY
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City NOLENSVILLE
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37135-9307
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name EGELHOFF LARRY
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City NOLENSVILLE
Operator State TN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 37135-9307
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code MBT
Departure City Murfreesboro
Departure State TN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1030
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MQY
Destination City Smyrna
Destination State TN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 19 2010 11:08AM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --