Amateur-built Tandum Air Bike accident near Elko, Nevada, February 29, 2004
On February 29, 2004 at about 5:20 pm local time, a amateur-built Tandum Air Bike, registered N240JC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Elko, Nevada (Elko Regional airport). 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power during cruise flight due to the failure of an ignition system component.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 29, 2004 · about 5:20 pm local time
- Place
- Elko, Nevada · Elko Regional · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Tandum Air Bike
- Registration
- N240JC · no longer on the register · serial AW002
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During cruise flight the experimental airplane's engine lost all power. The pilot made a forced landing in a field. During rollout the airplane collided with a snow berm. An examination of the engine by the airplane owner revealed its ignition system's electrical coil had failed. The pilot was the airplane's manufacturer.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 475 hours in all; 270 in this make and model; 45 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 475 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 2, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 270 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 30, 2003; 77 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,230 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru EA81 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EKO Elko NV at 4:20 pm
- Destination: EKO
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,700 ft
- Temperature: 34°F (1°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observation at 5:46 pm from ELK, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.