Amateur-built CHALLENGER II CW SPC incident near Sandwich, Illinois, October 7, 2012
On October 7, 2012 at about 7:30 pm local time, a amateur-built CHALLENGER II CW SPC, registered N530MW, suffered minor damage in an incident during initial climb near Sandwich, Illinois (Woodlake Landing/Sandwich airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to significant engine corrosion. Contributing to the accident was inadequate engine maintenance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 7, 2012 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sandwich, Illinois · Woodlake Landing/Sandwich · map
- Type
- Incident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built CHALLENGER II CW SPC
- Registration
- N530MW · registry record · serial CH11-0293-CW-0949
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, the airplane experienced a total loss of engine power after takeoff, and he subsequently executed a forced landing. Examination of the engine revealed that the power takeoff lower rod bearing had failed due to corrosion, damaging the piston and head. A low usage pattern for the engine combined with a failure to follow the engine manufacturer’s recommended preservation instructions led to significant corrosion in the engine.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb defining event
- Hard landing during landing
The NTSB's findings
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › (general) › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › (general) › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 517 hours in all; 5 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 163 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 2, 2012; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 960 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: IS65 Sandwich IL at 7:15 pm
- Destination: IS65 Sandwich IL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,500 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from KARR, 11 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.