Holmes CHALLENGER II N20EJ

Summary

On 15 August 2003 at about 23:00 local time, a Holmes CHALLENGER II registered N20EJ, operated by Leonard B. Wideman, was involved in an accident near Eldorado, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 August 2003 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Eldorado, Texas, United States

Coordinates

30.8611, -100.6103

Aircraft

Holmes CHALLENGER II

Registration

N20EJ

Category

Airplane

Operator

Leonard B. Wideman

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Eldorado → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

NTSB number

FTW03LA196

Nobody was injured.

The loss of engine power during the takeoff/initial climb following the separation of the front cockpit throttle control cable resulting from inadequate maintenance.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The experimental homebuilt single-engine airplane sustained substantial damage following a loss of engine power during the takeoff/initial climb from a private airstrip. The pilot, who occupied the front seat, reported that he applied full power during the takeoff roll, and the airplane rotated approximately midfield on the 2,000-foot dirt airstrip. Subsequently, the throttle cable knob separated from the control, and the airplane settled back to the runway. The pilot applied brakes and tried unsuccessfully to reduce the power. The airplane impacted a tree and a barbed-wire fence beyond the departure end of the runway before coming to rest upright. The throttle cable that runs from the front cockpit throttle control to the aft cockpit throttle control was found separated at the front cockpit attachment bolt. The aft throttle cable, which attaches to the engine, was found intact from the aft cockpit throttle control to the engine. Following a visual inspection of the engine, an engine run was conducted utilizing the aft cockpit throttle control. No discrepancies were found for the engine. The last maintenance inspection was performed in March 1998, and the airplane had accumulated 100 hours since that inspection.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.