Hill Group LLC CCX-2000 accident near Roll, Arizona, January 19, 2019
On January 19, 2019 at about 9:00 pm local time, a 2017 Hill Group LLC CCX-2000, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N57FX, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Roll, Arizona. 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
The loss of engine power due to a fatigue failure of the crankshaft for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 19, 2019 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Roll, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hill Group LLC CCX-2000, built 2017, amateur-built
- Registration
- N57FX · registry record · serial CCX-2000-0005
- 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, during cruise flight, the engine began to run rough and he attempted to troubleshoot; shortly thereafter, oil pressure decreased to 0 and the engine began to vibrate before it lost all power. The pilot performed a forced landing, during which the airplane struck a ditch and nosed over, substantially damaging the left wing. Examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft was fractured in fatigue aft of the No. 3 connecting rod journal, adjacent to the counterweights. Both counterweights were in place and remained attached to the crankshaft. Detailed examination of the fractured crankshaft revealed some non-conformances in the geometric tolerances of several crankcase attributes, and polishing was observed on the crankcase saddle bore landings; however, none were deemed severe enough to cause the crankshaft to fail in the time and manner in which it occurred. The cause of the crankshaft failure 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 enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during enroute (cruise)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Failure
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › Recip engine power section › Fatigue/wear/corrosion
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 9,538 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 9,538 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Aero Sport Power CC363I (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Yuma AZ at 8:30 pm
- Destination: Chandler AZ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 30.25 inHg
- Observation at 8:57 pm from KNYL, 33 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
8 documents, released by the NTSB on March 2, 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 | Materials Laboratory Factual Report 19-009 | PDF, 29 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 3 | NTSB Engine Examination Summary Report | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Garmin G3X Data | data file | Download |
| 5 | Logbook Entries | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Engine Assembly Quality Assurance Records | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 7 | Aero Sport Power Engine Inspection Records | PDF, 14 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation | 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.
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.