Amateur-built Quad City Challenger accident near Northfield, New Hampshire, October 3, 2020
On October 3, 2020 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 2006 amateur-built Quad City Challenger, registered N129AY, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Northfield, New Hampshire. 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 oil starvation of the No. 1 cylinder. Contributing to the accident was the pinched No. 1 cylinder oil injection line.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 3, 2020 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Northfield, New Hampshire · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Quad City Challenger NO SERIES, built 2006
- Registration
- N129AY · registry record · serial CH2-0206-2719
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, about 15 minutes into the flight, the experimental, amateur-built airplane’s engine “stopped” abruptly without any warning. He performed a forced landing in a hay field, and after landing, examined all engine systems and components. After finding no anomalies, the pilot decided to depart from the field. Shortly after takeoff, the engine again lost total power, and the pilot performed a forced landing, during which the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. Examination of the engine revealed damage to the No. 1 cylinder that was consistent with a lack of lubrication. Additionally, examination of the oil injection system revealed that the oil injection line to the No. 1 cylinder was pinched by the starter motor mounting flange. The pilot reported that he had performed maintenance in that area about 2 weeks prior and thought that the pinched oil line may have occurred during this maintenance.
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
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip eng oil sys › Failure
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 259 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 254 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 887 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 20, 2019; 21 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 960 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503-DCDI (piston); 140 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LCI Laconia NH at 8:00 pm
- Destination: 8B1 Deering NH
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 65°F (18°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 4:05 pm from CON, 15 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.