Bkf BACKCOUNTRY SUPERCUB N59BK

Summary

On 19 November 2018 at about 21:50 local time, a Bkf BACKCOUNTRY SUPERCUB registered N59BK was involved in an accident near Casper, Wyoming, 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

19 November 2018 at 21:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Casper, Wyoming, United States

Nearest airport

Casper/Natrona County Intl (CPR)

Coordinates

42.9058, -106.4600

Aircraft

Bkf BACKCOUNTRY SUPERCUB

Registration

N59BK

Category

Airplane

Year built

2018

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Flight Test

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Casper → Casper

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR19LA029

Nobody was injured.

The seizure of two bearings in the reduction gearbox, resulting in the total loss of engine power. Contributing to the accident was a high descent rate which resulted in a hard landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The commercial pilot was flight testing the airplane to evaluate an experimental diesel engine reduction gearbox. During the takeoff, as the airplane climbed above 500 ft above ground level, the pilot increased engine power, but a total loss of engine power occurred shortly afterward. The pilot initiated a left descending turn to return to the runway. During the landing sequence, the airplane had a high descent rate. The airplane touched down hard, resulting in the separation of the left main landing gear axle and substantial damage to the left wing lift strut.   Postaccident examination of the engine reduction gearbox found that two propeller shaft bearings inside the reduction gearbox seized, causing the total loss of engine power. 

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.