Challis Airport: Challis, Idaho

Airport is located 1 mile north east of Challis, Idaho.

Accident occurred Monday, July 30, 2007 in Challis, ID
Probable Cause Approval Date: 10/31/2007
Aircraft: Found Aircraft Canada Inc FBA-2C1, registration: N705BH
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.
The airplane touched down hard during an aborted landing and collapsed the main landing gear. While on the final approach leg of the traffic pattern, about 150 feet above ground level (agl), the airplane encountered a downdraft. The pilot applied full power in an effort to arrest the descent. The airplane touched down and bounced. The pilot attempted to abort the landing by applying full power. As the airplane approached the trees at the end of the runway, he elected to land ahead rather than continue the climb and risk colliding with the trees. The airplane landed hard again, collapsing the main landing gear. The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows: the pilot's inadequate bounced landing recovery technique, which resulted in a hard landing.
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Accident occurred Saturday, August 27, 2005 in Challis, ID
Probable Cause Approval Date: 4/25/2006
Aircraft: Piper PA-14, registration: N5104H
Injuries: 2 Fatal.
The pilot and his passenger were spotting Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep in mountainous terrain for the coming hunting season. The airplane was found by a responding fire fighting team. No impact ground scar was found; postimpact fire consumed the airplane. The airplane's left wing remains were swept forward approximately 60 degrees, and the right wing remains were swept aft approximately 60 degrees. The aft fuselage and empennage were rotated and twisted to the right. No preimpact engine or airframe anomalies, which might have affected the airplane's performance, were identified. The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows: The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control and the subsequent inadvertent stall/spin to the ground. A contributing factor was the pilot's diverted attention while spotting/locating Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep.
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Accident occurred Saturday, August 13, 2005 in Challis, ID
Probable Cause Approval Date: 3/28/2006
Aircraft: Piper PA-24-250, registration: N6677P
Injuries: 2 Serious.
The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff, the propeller RPM became erratic and uncontrollable and he elected to return to the airport. He reported that during the descent, the airplane developed a rough running engine and eventually lost power resulting in an off airport landing. Preliminary external examination of the assembly revealed a large hole in the engines crankcase, adjacent to the number four cylinder assembly. The number four piston rod was fractured and extensive heat distress, deformation and discoloration was noted to both the number three and number four piston assemblies. A representative from Textron Lycoming reported that this type of damage is indicative of oil depravation. Further examination of the engine assembly revealed that the hydraulic pump adapter pad cover gasket was protruding from between the accessory mounting pad and its associated cover. A section of the gasket separated and was displaced from its installed position. The FAA Airworthiness Inspector overseeing the examination reported that the installed gasket was intended to be used in conjunction with a hydraulic pump, if applicable, however, this particular engine configuration does not utilize a hydraulic pump, and therefore a hydraulic pump adapter pad gasket should have been installed. Personnel at the Challis airport reported that a large puddle of oil was found in the run-up area following the airplane's pre takeoff run-up and departure. The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows: The installation of an improper oil gasket by maintenance personnel, which resulted in a loss of engine oil and subsequent loss of engine power during the emergency descent.