Zenith CH701 N8787G
20 July 2022 · Bothell, Washington, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 20 July 2022 at about 05:00 local time, a Zenith CH701 registered N8787G was involved in an accident near Bothell, Washington, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 05:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Bothell, Washington, United States
- Nearest airport
- Snohomish County (Paine Fld) (PAE)
- Coordinates
- 47.7910, -122.1767
- Aircraft
- Zenith CH701
- Registration
- N8787G
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2011
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Tacoma → Everett
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Night
- NTSB number
- WPR22LA263
People
2 people were seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
A loss of engine power due to the fatigue failure of the engine’s flywheel screws that were likely overloaded when the engine was involved in a previous accident.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot reported the takeoff and en route portions of the flight were uneventful. While descending to the traffic pattern altitude at the destination airport, the engine lost power and the propeller stopped. The pilot made an emergency landing on a vacant road, colliding with powerlines. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the flywheel screws had separated due to fatigue, resulting in an engine failure. Examination of the screws showed multiple fatigue cracks and wear consistent with low-stress bending fatigue. Maintenance records revealed that the engine had been installed in another airplane that was involved in an accident where the propeller was damaged. According to the engine manufacturer, abrupt propeller stoppage can produce a spike of torque along the crankshaft, overloading the flywheel screws and causing failure. There was no evidence that the screws were replaced after that accident.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Zenith CH701 accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Sep 2022 | Zenith CH701 | Stanton, Minnesota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 6 Nov 2015 | Zenith CH701 | Okeechobee, Florida, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 Apr 2022 | Sawby Scott RV-6A | Richland, Washington, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 13 Apr 2022 | Europa XS MONO | Eastsound, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 12 Jun 2022 | Piper PA-24-250 | Auburn, Washington, United States | - | Minor injuries | - |
| 7 Sep 2022 | Bell 205A-1 | Cougar, Washington, United States | Kachina Aviation | Minor injuries | - |
| 13 Jul 2022 | Piper PA-60-601P | Scappoose, Washington, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 24 Apr 2022 | Cessna 170B | Ravensdale, Washington, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |