The flight departed Runway 13 at David Jay Perry Airport (1K4) in Goldsby, Oklahoma. About 10 seconds after the pilot rotated the Vans RV-6A, the engine made loud popping and banging sounds and experienced a reduction in engine power.
He maneuvered the airplane to land on Runway 13 in a “tight” left traffic pattern.
During the landing, the left wing hit the runway and the airplane landed hard.
The pilot lost control of the plane as it departed the runway and rolled inverted.
Substantial damage was sustained to the left wing, fuselage, and the horizontal and vertical stabilizers. The pilot sustained minor injuries in the crash.
A post-accident examination of the engine found that it was equipped with a Champion Slick impulse magneto that sparked the lower bank of aviation spark plugs and an electronic ignition system that sparked the upper bank of automotive spark plugs.
The No. 1 electronic ignition lead was loose and detached from the ignition coil.
Additionally, the ignition coil package mount bolt was loose, which would have allowed the grouping to vibrate during engine operation.
Probable Cause: The engine electronic ignition system became disconnected, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power.
NTSB Identification: 107044
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This April 2023 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
