Accident Details
On June 23, 2023, at about 1000 central daylight time, an unregistered Quad City Challenger II airplane sustained substantial damage during an accident near Cedar Creek, Missouri. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
The pilot reported that the airplane had not been flown since October 2021. The day before the accident, he drained the fuel and replaced it, changed the fuel filter, and checked all fluid levels and lines. On the day of the accident, the pilot flew for about 20 minutes, landed to pick up a passenger, then took off. About 10 minutes into the second leg, the engine sputtered and power decreased despite the pilot advancing the throttle. He performed a forced landing to a field, where the airplane impacted trees, causing substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.
Postaccident Examination
A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine was conducted at the pilot’s residence. The exterior of the engine was found covered in oil, particularly concentrated near the power take-off (PTO) piston and cylinder head. Blue oil coating, consistent with the color of injected oil, was also evident on the side of the aircraft. The oil injection lines appeared pristine and unused but lacked securing clamps. A piece of old, brittle oil injection line was discovered near the oil injection pump. The fuel, primer, and vent lines were aged and hardened.
The magneto piston, cylinder, and combustion chamber appeared normal with no anomalies. However, the PTO piston exhibited vertical scoring, and metal transfer marks were observed on corresponding cylinder wall locations, indicating a piston seizure.
Maintenance History
According to the pilot, when he purchased the airplane in 2008, no maintenance records were available. In 2009, he installed new fuel lines and a fuel pump, rebuilt the carburetor, replaced spark plugs, safety wires, brake lines, wheel inner tubes, checked cylinder compressions, drained old fuel, and replaced the trim tab. No maintenance was performed after 2009 except annual fuel filter replacements. The Rotax maintenance manual for the 582 UL engine specifies that all hoses of the lubrication system must be replaced every 5 years.