Amateur-built RV 8 accident near Somerset, Wisconsin, May 29, 2018
On May 29, 2018, a 1988 amateur-built RV 8, registered N214FF, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Somerset, Wisconsin. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to damaged and disconnected electronic ignition wires from both the main and backup batteries, which resulted in a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 29, 2018
- Place
- Somerset, Wisconsin · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV 8 UNDESIGNAT, built 1988
- Registration
- N214FF · registry record · serial 80687
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while in cruise flight in the experimental, amateur-built airplane, the radio and GPS lights flickered, followed by a total loss of engine power. He attempted to troubleshoot the loss of power and then conducted a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane impacted a fence; the wings were substantially damaged. Examination revealed that the wire connection from the main battery to the engine's electronic ignition had melted just above the terminal attachment. Although the airplane was equipped with a backup battery, the connection from the backup battery to the ignition was disconnected, which pre and the wire connection from the electronic ignition to the backup battery was not connected to the battery terminal. While the melted wire that connected the main battery to the electronic ignition would still have allowed power to the electronic ignition from the backup battery, the lack of connection to the backup battery provided no power to the electronic ignition and resulted in the total loss of engine power.
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 enroute defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Electrical power system › Electrical pwr sys wiring › Damaged/degraded
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 935 hours in all; 80 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 935 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 12, 2017
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,069 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 20, 2017
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-B1A (piston); 2,069 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 21D Lake Elmo MN
- Destination: OEO Osceola WI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: night
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 8:15 pm from KOEO, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN18LA200.