Zenith CH 750 N210WP

Summary

On 20 September 2020 at about 16:45 local time, a Zenith CH 750 registered N210WP was involved in an accident near Montrose, Missouri, 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

20 September 2020 at 16:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Montrose, Missouri, United States

Coordinates

38.2500, -93.8900

Aircraft

Zenith CH 750

Registration

N210WP

Category

Airplane

Year built

2014

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Clinton → Parsons

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN20LA412

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power due to an electrical overload in the engine control unit wiring system; the electrical overload occurred as a result of improper installation by the airplane builder.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the experimental, amateur-built airplane was en route to the destination airport when the engine momentarily lost power. The pilot immediately selected the alternate fuel pump and engine control unit (ECU), and the engine regained power. About 5 minutes later, the engine lost total power, and the pilot attempted to restart the engine. The engine restart was unsuccessful, and the pilot performed a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing and rudder. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the main fuse block was discolored and exhibited internal thermal damage. An automotive blade-type fuse that connected to both primary and secondary fuel pumps and primary and backup ECUs displayed arcing signatures and had failed. According to the engine manufacturer, the primary and secondary ECUs should have been wired directly to the main bus and should not have contained a fuse. The improper installation of the airplane’s electrical system resulted in an overloaded electrical system for the installed fuse. After bypassing the failed electrical system, an engine test run was performed. The engine started and operated normally with no mechanical issues noted.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.