Accident Overview
On July 18, 2022, at 0804 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built RV-10, registration N910BW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Palatka, Florida. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, the engine sputtered and then lost total power. Unable to return to the airport, he executed a forced landing to heavily wooded terrain. The resulting impact caused substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and the tail section.
Engine Examination
Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the cannon plug type circular connector, which linked the electronic ignition wiring harness to the firewall, was not locked and was partially engaged. This connector provided the connection between the wiring harness and the two electronic control units located on the cockpit side of the firewall. According to a representative of the ignition system manufacturer, if the firewall connector was not secure, "this would result in a single point failure of the entire ignition system."
Maintenance History
A review of the airplane's maintenance records showed that the electronic ignition system was installed in October 2020. There were no subsequent entries discussing any maintenance of the ignition system since that date.