CHISTOV CHALLENGER

Full Narrative

On May 22, 2019, about 1910 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Chistov Challenger, N638DC, experienced a total loss of engine power during a visual approach for landing to a private airstrip near Raymond, Mississippi. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire. The pilot was uninjured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight that was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The local flight originated from the private airstrip about 1910.
The pilot stated that he departed from the private airstrip on a local personal flight during which the engine operated "flawlessly." He stated the approach to the airport was normal and uneventful. During short final, the engine completely lost power. The pilot trimmed the airplane for best glide speed and attempted to land but the airplane hit the top of a tree adjacent to the runway and struck powerlines.
The 2-stroke Rotax model 503 engine was examined under the supervision of the Federal Aviation Administration and by a representative of Rotech Flight Safety Inc. The representative stated that post-crash fire damage precluded examination of the fuel system and determination of fuel system contaminants. The internal components of the engine were connected. Several of the internal engine components were not aircraft engine specific parts specified by Rotax.