Colorado Aviation Accidents & Incidents

On November 14, 2013, at 1139 mountain standard time, a Quicksilver MXII Sport, N2910P, landed hard and collided with terrain at the Erie Municipal Airport (KEIK), Erie, Colorado, following a loss of engine power. The sport-certificated pilot and his passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight originated from KEIK about 1030.The pilot told a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that he had been making touch and go landings in the airport traffic pattern for about one hour. After taking off, the engine lost power and he turned back towards the runway. The airplane landed hard and the right wing struck the ground. The leading edge was crushed and several ribs were broken.

The engine was returned to the manufacturer for examination. The pilot was later questioned as to why the engine lost power. He replied that he could not find the e-mail from the manufacturer but to the best of his recollection, the crankshaft had failed "that had something to do with the center main shaft bearing." A loss of engine power due to a crankshaft failure, which resulted in a forced landing.