Challenger 2 Engine Failure Crashed my New Plane 

The engine got tired of listening to that music and said "I quit"

1st - a CH2 CW weighing 400 lbs empty is LIGHT, most come in at 480-500 lbs 2nd - a 503 dcdi is MORE than enough power for this plane, it is not under powered as you say 3rd - starting the engine and adding power/moving the plane ignoring the 4 minute warm up, well. 4th - flying way to low

Looks like I picked the wrong day to quit sniffing glue.

Altitude, airspeed, and intelligence. You must have two of these three to survive. This pilot had airspeed...

I had a CH2CWS with a Rotax 503 and put several hundred hours on it. This engine seized because it ran lean & hot. Look at the EIS readings for EGT during the take-off. I saw 1213 and still climbing. The limit for the R503 is 1200ºF and no one that isn't high lets an engine run that hard and that hot. I'm thankful that the pilot is OK but the truth of what happened should be known so others in a similar situation don't make the same error.

I have 800 hours in a Challenger II giving instruction back in the 90's. Zero problems with the 503. But I always flew as though the engine was about to fail. Sufficient altitude while cruising usually 3,000' and taught students to fly a tight pattern so that at any point in the pattern you could safely land on the airstrip. My biggest complaint watching others fly is seeing them fly patterns bigger than I did in a Cessna 206, then need power on final to make it to the runway.

Wow!!! This flight was doomed from the very beginning. Never climbed out on takeoff...staying just above the numbers and buzzing power lines and a farm!!! Holy Sh!t. Neither a 15 year absence or an engine out was the cause of a disastrous ending. Lack of piloting skill was the one and only cause.

I have more than 400 hours in a Challenger 2 with a 503 and it is a very reliable and forgiving craft. The video sounds like you had it at wide open throttle the whole time. I don't need to repeat all the other comments about your obvious lack of piloting skills ( none ) or training as they have already been mentioned and the video is clear proof of that.

Glad to see you weren't hurt. Hope it all worked out ok. Thanks for posting

Bit of a balls up! - on first flight on a new aircraft I always stay high above the airport for an hour or so incase there is a problem. On cross countries fly at least 2000ft AGL with landing sites in view, if terrain is rough I'll fly higher. From 2000 ft looked like here would be lots of places to land. Also I found Rotax 2 strokes very reliable all the issues I've seen have been with external items like fuel pump, cracked fuel tubing, cracked vacuum line, wrong oil/fuel mixture.

Damn!! Glad to see your ok Rando! Thanks for sharing

so many mistakes... you're lucky you walked away from this. I hope you've either taken flight training or given up flying for your own health and safety.

My concerns started when the seller didn't offer a checkride. Then no warmup. Then an very abnormal t/o. Should have been off in 200' and climbing at least 500'/min. If that situation was due to performance an immediate landing was indicated. I heard no reduction in RPM after takeoff. You landed at 60 mph! That's 25 above stall! Foolhardy ignorance is the kindest thing I can say. You dhould be charged with murdering that engine and airframe!

I never recommend crashing at 2 x Vs Altitude buys you time and time buys you options Thanx 4 sharing your experience

First, I'm glad you're ok. Now, you were doing great straight in between the crops, why did you decide to turn right just as you were almost down and fly into the crop rows?

What you experienced is called a cold seizure. It's caused by the aluminum piston being squeezed by the steel cylinder till the engine stops turning. It's a common rotax problem. I had this happen to me almost identically. Strange thing is I would buy another one except I would ditch the R 582 and replace it with the R 912, a certified powerplant. That means the engine has passed the certification standards of all production engines, the R 582 is not.

Fine vid. Just subbed. Sorry your plane broke. Glad you are OK!

I’m glad you walk away from that my friend👏👏👏🙏🙏

Pretty much shows why 2-cycle engines get such a bad rap. They have to be very carefully maintained and operated. The failure modes often result in a complete loss of power. They need to be constantly looked at for the condition of the cylinder walls and the rings. A stuck compression ring can cause the piston to heat up and start galling on the cylinder wall whereas a tradition airplane engine will get increased blow-by, cylinder temperature and oil loss. My 582 quit on me due to lead build up from cross country flying. It quit on the *ground* thank God or 20 seconds later I would have been over the trees. I rebuilt that engine and flew it some more but not long and not on long cross counties where I would have to refuel with avgas. Before all the comments come in I *did* operate that engine carefully within limits with EGT guages and keep the recommended schedule for top end maintenance. I didn't use a lead scavenger and that was a mistake. The inside of the engine and the exhaust system looked like it had been power coated white. South Mississippi said is is a common failure. The guy on the phone there described it to me before I could finish telling him about it. So yeah, a 2-cycle sure can be reliable if operated correctly. But I won't fly behind one again.

That was what i was going to say....too low, is a miracle you didn't hit power lines. There is also restrictions on how low you can fly over build up areas and residences. Those farms were buzzed. Only 20 sec until you hit the deck means too low!!!! Go back to engine run up on take off, didn't see any. Route planning includes weather research and alternate airports. On a brand new truck on such a trip i would stop every 30 miles for the engine to cool and adjust. That engine was a full throttle since take off! If the temperature was high that day, the work output on the engine could been triple. Is a miracle almost made it but the next flight could been really bad because that engine was done. You a lucky you were not over a mall or mid city at that altitude the FAA would impound that plane and fine for violations to FAR regulations. Remember, height and speed save lives. The temptation is to go low thinking in case something happens i'll be like 500 feet up and no problem. Not really, Height gives you time to call emergency, troubleshoot and control the aircraft to land where you want it to land. Speed provides you the energy to do it. Is uncontrolled airspace i don't know what kept this flight so low.

Man, she was flying so good too. Sorry to see this but glad you came out of it ok.

I’m glad to see you, survive the crash landing. I’m curious as to why you flew so low the whole way? I hope you got your plane fixed!

Prendido el motor sin nadie a bordo!!! Wao! Es una eminencia en conocimiento aereo!!

I've got about 350 hours in a quicksilver. I thought your altitude looked quite a bit low for that kind of flight. I went out a 2-hour cross country one time and flat elevations and I was at 5,000 ft. From the looks of it it doesn't appear that you ever got over a thousand. I'm glad you're okay. You paid the stupid tax that's for sure.

If there was a reason you kept to that low an altitude in that area, please let us know. With your lack of currency and an apparent unknown aircraft to you, what kept you from doing some shakedown and familiarity laps near the airport. All in all, this seems to be what my instructor would call" 1/2 a mistake high and the dice came up snake-eyes".

That bird will climb if you pull back on the stick and after climbing through 1,000 ft then back off on the throttle. Then do a few touch and go’s. Cruising way too low and running the engine at full throttle. What else do you expect?

What were you doing flying over wired crops?

Wow - so many things wrong here. Glad I was smart enough to take lessons.

Its good that you didnt got hurt in the crash. Whats the reason why you flew so low, was it for problems with the engine? Because you would have more options for landing with engine trouble in a higher attitude. I hope your plane will be all right again. Good luck.😢

What is with the cold revving. Let the engine warm up first! Those engines are almost bullet proof if operated properly. Taxi to the runways pick an rpm it is not a car, once warmed up (look at instruments) them bring rpm to take off for 60 seconds and listen for any weird noises. Once the pre take-off power test is done then go to runway for take off. That is piloting 101

Not too surprised at the outcome of this flight. So glad there was no fire on impact.

I'm not a pilot but been Skydiving 40 yrs and I also thought you should have been at a higher alltitude. Gives you more time to find a safe place to land.

You were flying along a road. Why did you choose to land in grape arbor?

I agree with most comments here. Way too many excuses. You can't become a better pilot with excuses. Pilot error is pilot error. Good luck in future

U making it out, was a good thing big dog. Ive and said that i will become a pilot ☝🏾 day.

Dang.....I'm glad you made it out ok friend!

From the moment you got airborne I was yelling at the screen for you to gain altitude, altitude is your friend, had you been at 4k or 5k you could have easily set her down safely without any damage, that crash was 100% avoidable, I give you an F for aviator skills, sorry mate!

I will say….a little rusty. Gotta holler “CLEAR PROP” before cranking that sucker. And……altitude is life. Someone chime in about FARs regarding flight above populated areas. Thanks

What did the NTSB have to say?

You got a plane that is so cool

I don't think you can crash a plane and come off much better than that, especially at that altitude with what 1 second between the start of engine trouble and loss of thrust, well done pilot! What ended up being the issue on the engine?

Miles of smooth, flat pavement directly below. Chooses to land in the dirt.

Also, learn to use the rudder people

How did you end up flying a Challenger 2 if you've only flown ultralights before? Do you have a Sport Pilot License or a Pilot's License?

My advice to everyone that flies a CH II or Aerolite or any other similar type of aircraft with 2 stroke engines whether they hold a PPL or SPL or flying without a license under Ultralight Category will be 2 main rules. 1) Fly allowable highest possible altitude... BUT; for whatever reason if you are only going to fly few hundred feet AGL, then 2) Follow a route that offers you multiple safe landing spots in case of a mishap. Since I live and fly in the same area I am very familiar with the landscape. It is thousands acres of agricultural flat landscape and offers tons of straight away paved side roads and between the fields hundreds of hard dirt farm roads. Also, when you buy an airplane away from your home field, as an inexperienced pilot in that model/type aircraft DO NOT make your first flight to your home but rather fly a few hrs around the airport/field where you made the purchase. With the safety of that field below you try to put that aircraft to test if it passes the scrutiny of "your" flying ability. Especially for an Experimental, home built aircraft that is not passed an inspection by an A&P / IA performed pre-buy inspection. On such aircraft there may be many issues even the seller may not be aware of... Thank God this incident ended safely. Please be careful and act sensibly because we are losing too many GA pilots unnecessarily in the last few years. Fly safe all!!! and a Happy 2024 !!!

Why flying so low without an alternate/emergency landing at 45 degrees at all times?

At least you walked away from it. It obviously didn't fit 103, did you get in trouble with the FAA for an unlicensed aircraft!?

I am happy that you can walk away with that emergency landing, hope she can be fixed well. But you are flying really too low. The three most useless things in aviation are runway behind you, altitude above you, and fuel not in your tanks.

That was hard to watch. Flying too damn low over built up areas, (illegal) and turning away from two good landing areas to crash in a vineyard. What was he thinking? Did he suffer fuel exhaustion? Just so many things. Glad he survived, clearly he has a guardian angel.

Were you too high while being too low?

That music would drive anybody into the ground

So why was your take off roll so long, it should have been up way before. Belt or gear reduction drive. Something doesn't sound right on take off. Maybe slipping belts or wrong pitch on propeller, for that engine. 🤔

I was thinking when he took off should he not be climbing more .. he was seconds from the ground his entire flight

I proly would have set it down on the road, deal with the effects later, might have been a safe landing and no damage. Did you ever figure out what made the engine quite. Someone mentioned the motor running at high RPM is that True? bottom line you walked away.

never should have tried that last second right turn to the road, you were lined up fine with the rows

2 Squrells makin love in a tree, The male fell out Holdin his ass n head Looks up the tree "That shits for The Birds" 💯‼ Cheers Rando 👍💯‼

Altitude is your friend. Poor choice of landing area.

A few decades ago, a young church pastor friend was toying with the idea of buying and ultralight and going flying with it. He had never taken any flight instruction in a certified or registered aircraft. I told him the first item on his aviation plan must be to hire a CFI and at least solo before strapping himself into an ultralight. He decided (maybe with God's and his wife's encouragement) to forego aviation.

Ok, 1st, the music was horrible! 2nd, did you go fly with the seller before you bought the plane? 3rd, Why are you flying so low? You leave no room for error incase something does go wrong. In the trucking universe, we do what's called " Leave yourself an out" In which I would be flying as high as possible so to find a safe place to land. Glad you good man. This is a plane I would love to have. well, not the one you crashed of course. What was the cause of the engine cutting out?

Rando im glad your ok/ we would have never got to meet rambo, and the little guy,and alien DNA would been lost.Awsome video!

I sometimes wonder if WWII fighters had as many issues with (non-combat) flying as do private planes and ultralights.

I wonder how the landing would have gone at the home strip without any problems?

Did you ever figure out what me the engine quit?

I would have put her down on the highway...........glad you never got hurt!! Sounds like you ran out of fuel! Great vid of what not to do imo! No doubt you learned from your mistakes as we're human! How about fines, you got some no doubt!

Wow, just about all the things you shouldn't do as a pilot in one video. Why didn't you land inline with the rows of grapes or even better on the perfectly good road with no traffic?

Altitude is your friend when flying a snowmobile.

I kept thinking during the whole flight..... Altitude means life

Which engine? Why did it quit?

Any landing you can walk away from is a good landing.

In addition to all the other comments about how you put yourself in a position for disaster, you stayed illegally low the whole flight. because of this, you had less than 30 seconds from engine stop to crunch. These actions could kill you/others and certainly hurt the sport.

This guy started it up and took off for the border! I can't figure out the logic behind it. He could've gotten the same result by starting it up and jamming the throttle forward and letting it takeoff alone. I think the music came on because his wife called just before he rotated and he talked for so long forgot what he was doing...

2 perfect roads and you aim for a field?

Por supuesto!! El canabis lo hiso pensar que piloteaba una turbina, !!!!!!

Wow. I've only ever been a student pilot, but it's obvious all you ever did was invite that plane to dump you.

Altitude, altitude, altitude is your friend!

Why on earth were you flying so low? You made no attempt to gain altitude from the time you were first airborne. Specially with limited landing possibilities. Everything you mentioned verbally or via text, suggested you not fly. Sadly, and unlike yourself, this particular aircraft has a proven track record. You had no business flying something that you were unfamiliar with. It’s a blessing that you survived, you pretty much flew that plane into the ground.

its a beautiful day david and linda la flame

Good landing all things considered

I hope you learned your lesson and decided to keep your feet on the ground. Flying isn’t your thing…. Terrible piloting and decision making skills….

You have two highways around you and you picked the bush... I don's get it! Scare of cars?

whats wrong with the highway...looked clear enough to land...

We were shown how to always fly from one landing spot to the next in sequence. you walked away so you landed.

Again, you should have been way higher. don't know if you are a GA but height is your best friend in any plane.

I think he was looking for high voltage lines

Aw crap!!!

What happened? The rubber band broke! Ha, ha , ha! Glad you are o.k.

There is absolutely no reason you should have been flying that low

Flying to low in a new airplane. Give yourself some room to maneuver especially in a new airplane.

You forgot a lot in 15 years, like VY, like Altitude = Life Like proper training in Type Aircraft, Run ups, preflight etc you do have balls though.

Well at least Rando got to elevation 420.

Muy bajo ,exceso rpm's, remember, velocidad y altura , conservan la dentadura!!! El challenger es uno de los mejores y más dóciles aviones que eh piloteado, en mis 30 años como light sport pilot!! Avion muy bonito para destruirlo de esa forma!!!

A good landing is one you can walk away from.

Flying too low.I would have tried to land on the road.

I would say you need to fly with more ALT for safety. the higher the better when the shit hits the fan.

It sure beats me how you got 6 grand for $12 worth of scrap metal

Didn't hear clear prop when starting. Flew too low and gave yourself no time to find suitable landing area. Shame.

This was some pretty bad piloting. I was puckerd up the whole time flying over that built up area of town at that low of an altitude. I would have been scared flying that low on my paramotor and I can land that just about anywhere. I'm not comfortable flying anything unless I'm high enough that I have twice the glide distance I would need if the engine goes out.

Really sorry that happened. But I've got to say,.."no engine just quits because it says to itself,..think I'll stop today for the heck of it". Two stroke or four. Doesn't matter. The only difference,..one can quit quicker. But the other has quit or blown up in countless numbers as well. Manufacturing defects aside, they always quit for a reason. And if you've done your part like religion and something still happens,...you were doing something that carries risks when things go wrong. No way around that. These days,...driving on the city streets with modern drivers carries risks. And the outcome can be far worse that what happened here. At least no one but the ground hit you. Whew!

As others stated, flying WAY to low .. not allowing yourself any room to maneuver to a controlled power off landing…

Cruising way too low, don’t blame this on the plane. Pilot error.