Reynolds Ronald B TEAM ACFT Z-MAX N440ZM

Summary

On 9 August 2023 at about 00:24 local time, a Reynolds Ronald B TEAM ACFT Z-MAX registered N440ZM, operated by Reynolds Ronald B, was involved in an accident near Rigby, Idaho, 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

9 August 2023 at 00:24

Classification

Accident

Location

Rigby, Idaho, United States

Nearest airport

Rigby Airport (U56)

Coordinates

43.6407, -111.9299

Aircraft

Reynolds Ronald B TEAM ACFT Z-MAX

Registration

N440ZM

Category

Airplane

Year built

1992

Engines

1

Operator

Reynolds Ronald B

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR23LA314

1 person was seriously injured.

The loss of engine power during takeoff due to inadequately secured wires, which resulted in the wearing of the wires’ sheaths and the grounding of the airplane’s electrical system. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during the flight.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Before takeoff for a local flight, the pilot emptied the wing tanks, cleaned the carburetors and fuel pump, and test ran the engine. The airplane had not flown in 8 years. A witness saw the airplane taxi up and down the taxiway multiple times both the day before and day of the accident, and then saw it depart on the accident flight. The witness heard the engine sputtering shortly after takeoff and stated that it was not operating at full power. The witness recalled the airplane made an abrupt left turn above the airport, and while in the turn, the left wing dropped sharply. The airplane then descended and impacted the ground with the left wing. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that two wires from the starter solenoid to the voltage regulator were inadequately secured and worn on their outer sheath, revealing the internal copper wires. The wires were routed across the right forward side of the engine support structure. The copper wires were in contact with the support structure, which likely grounded the airplane’s electrical system and caused the engine to lose power. The sudden drop of the left wing during the turn was consistent with the pilot exceeding the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the turn, resulting in an aerodynamic stall at an altitude too low for recovery.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.