Incident Overview
On August 6, 2025, at approximately 1925 central daylight time, a Vans RV4 airplane, registration N595BS, was substantially damaged during a forced landing on a golf course near Elgin, Illinois. The airplane was operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot and passenger were not injured.
Sequence of Events
The pilot reported that during cruise flight at an altitude of 1,000 feet above ground level, he observed an increase in electrical voltage. He initiated a turn toward the departure airport. The voltage then indicated 20 volts before the entire instrument panel lost power, followed by a loss of engine power. The pilot also noticed a small plume of smoke emanating from behind the instrument panel.
With the engine no longer producing power, the pilot executed a forced landing to a golf course. The landing resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and engine mount.
Damage and Investigation
The airplane sustained substantial damage, particularly to the fuselage and engine mount. The engine was equipped with two E-Mag electronic ignition systems. Both magnetos were retained for further examination.
Devices capable of recording data were sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorders Laboratory for further analysis. The airplane itself was retained for further examination to determine the cause of the electrical failure and subsequent power loss.