Aardema Robert John 1 AARDEMA RAG WNG SP N768BA

Summary

On 29 October 2010 at about 15:40 local time, a Aardema Robert John 1 AARDEMA RAG WNG SP registered N768BA was involved in an accident near Oshtemo, Michigan, United States. One person was 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

29 October 2010 at 15:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Oshtemo, Michigan, United States

Nearest airport

Newman's Airport (4N0)

Coordinates

42.2889, -85.7500

Aircraft

Aardema Robert John 1 AARDEMA RAG WNG SP

Registration

N768BA

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Oshtemo → Oshtemo

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN11CA047

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the ignition system wiring, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that, just after takeoff and during the initial climb, the airplane's engine suddenly lost power when the airplane was about 400 feet above the ground. The pilot attempted to return to the departure runway but realized that he did not have sufficient altitude. The airplane impacted trees and the ground in a wooded area near the runway. All of the biplane's wing surfaces were fragmented during the accident sequence and the fuselage came to rest nose down. The airplane was powered by a converted automobile engine. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the ignition high voltage coil wire had separated from the coil. When the wire was reinserted into the coil, the engine started normally. The coil wire was held in place by a friction fit; no other means of retention was provided.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.