Van's RV10 N910BW

Summary

On 18 July 2022 at about 12:04 local time, a Van's RV10 registered N910BW was involved in an accident near Palatka, Florida, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 July 2022 at 12:04

Classification

Accident

Location

Palatka, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Palatka Muni - Lt Kay Larkin F (28J)

Coordinates

29.6584, -81.6895

Aircraft

Van's RV10

Registration

N910BW

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Gatlinburg

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA22LA322

1 person was seriously injured.

Total loss of engine power due to the improper installation of an electronic ignition system connector plug.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Shortly after takeoff, the experimental amateur-built airplane’s engine lost total power and the pilot made an off-airport forced landing, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the tail section. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that a cannon plug-type circular connector that connected the engine’s electronic ignition system’s wire harness to the two electronic control units was not properly connected. The manufacturer of the ignition system stated that disengagement of the connector, which carried all electrical signals required to run the ignition system, “…would result in a single point failure of the entire ignition system.” Maintenance records showed that the ignition system had been installed about 21 months before the accident, with no other work to that system detailed between that time and the accident. Based on this information, it is likely that the connector had not been fully secured when the system was installed, and that over time, the partial connection had loosened, ultimately resulting in the loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.