What happened
On May 27, 2025, at approximately 13:30 mountain daylight time, an experimental amateur-built RANS S20 Raven, registration N327KM, was involved in an accident near Fairfield, Utah. The aircraft was operating under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight.
Shortly after departing the runway at West Desert Airpark (UT9), the pilot reported that the aircraft was at an altitude of approximately 800 feet above ground level when it suffered a total loss of engine power. This was accompanied by an error message appearing on the multi-function display. After unsuccessful attempts to restart the engine, the pilot initiated a forced landing in a vegetated field. The aircraft landed hard, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot was not injured.