Amateur-built SEAREY accident near New Ipswich, New Hampshire, June 25, 2024

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The pilot reported that shortly after reaching his initial cruise altitude, he heard a “loud bang” and the pusher-style engine lost all power. The pilot unsuccessfully attempted to restore engine power multiple times. After he determined that he would be unable to restore power to the engine, the pilot performed a forced landing in a wooded area, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. Postaccident examination of the airplane at the accident site revealed that the exhaust muffler and tailpipe assembly was separated from the engine and not located at the accident site. Following recovery, a postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed the only anomaly to be the missing exhaust muffler and tailpipe assembly. Two of the propeller blades, which were mounted aft of the engine, displayed impact damage signatures and portions of the blades had broken free, which were also not located. Only one of the eight exhaust springs that attach the exhaust muffler and tailpipe assembly to the exhaust risers remained with the exhaust risers. The spring displayed deformation on the exhaust muffler end consistent with being pulled out of position. It is likely that the exhaust muffler and tailpipe assembly had separated from the exhaust risers during flight and impacted the propeller, which resulted in a loss of power of the engine. The reason for the exhaust muffler and tailpipe separation could not be determined.

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.

Photographs from the investigation 15 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them

Photograph 1 – Accident site overviewPhotograph 2 – Fuselage overviewPhotograph 3 – Engine overview at the accident sitePhotograph 4 – Engine overview at the accident sitePhotograph 5 – Engine overviewPhotograph 6 – No. 1 exhaust riserPhotograph 7 – No. 1 exhaust riser endPhotograph 8 – No. 3 exhaust riserPhotograph 9 – No. 3 exhaust riser endPhotograph 10 – No. 3 exhaust riser spring attach loopPhotograph 11 – No. 2 exhaust riserPhotograph 12 – No. 2 exhaust riser endPhotograph 13 – No. 2 exhaust springPhotograph 14 – No. 4 exhaust riserPhotograph 15 – No. 4 exhaust riser end

The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.