Amateur-built Bearhawk accident near Sevierville, Tennessee, March 27, 2019
On March 27, 2019 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 2018 amateur-built Bearhawk, registered N22GM, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Sevierville, Tennessee. 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
Abnormal combustion in the No. 1 cylinder for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence, followed by the activation of the ignition system circuit breaker, which resulted in a total loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 2019 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Sevierville, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Bearhawk, built 2018
- Registration
- N22GM · no longer on the register · serial 59-187/188-829
- 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 the experimental, amateur-built airplane experienced a total loss of engine power while maneuvering at an altitude of 2,500 ft mean sea level. He activated the electronic fuel injection/ignition system emergency power switch and attempted to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. He performed a forced landing to a field, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. A review of engine and flight data recorded by the electronic flight information system revealed a sudden increase (about 240°F over 1 second) in exhaust gas temperature (EGT) in the No. 1 cylinder, consistent with abnormal combustion immediately preceded the loss of engine power. Shortly thereafter, the engine rpm began to decrease, and the electrical system load increased by about 8 amps, then decreased by about 17 amps. The engine rpm continued to decrease for the next 2.5 minutes, consistent with a windmilling propeller, before it reached 900 rpm and then decreased to 0 rpm just prior to the landing. The electronic ignition circuit breaker was found activated. The reason for the abnormal combustion and the activation of the electronic ignition circuit breaker which resulted in a total loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available information.
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 maneuvering defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during maneuvering
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,500 as pilot in command; 250 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 11, 2018
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 44 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, January 23, 2019; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,500 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Superior/Barrows IO-360-B1XC2 (piston); 44 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 97TN Jonesborough TN at 7:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
- Observation at 8:35 pm from DKX, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on January 19, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record - Conversation with Pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Sevier County Sheriff Investigative Report | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Memorandum for Record - Conversation with FAA Inspector | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 12 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Electronic Flight Information System Recorded Data - Charts | PDF, 26 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Electronic Flight Information System Recorded Data - Tabular Data | data file | Download |
| 9 | Evidence Control Form | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N22GM the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.