Engine Rod Failure Causes Fatal Tarragon Crash Near Chandler

A Pelegrin Tarragon aircraft, registration N35RR, crashed near Chandler, Arizona, on Feb. 6, 2026, after the No. 2 connecting rod of its turbocharged Edge Performance 912iS engine failed at the crankshaft. The forced landing in a desert wash resulted in the pilot's death and a second occupant's injuries.

The National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary report shows the rod separated at the crank attachment, with minimal propeller damage and no oil-pressure warnings prior to failure. The pilot had not deployed the GRS ballistic parachute before impact; the system fired after the aircraft struck the ground, as indicated by the rocket motor's position 800 feet south of the wreckage.

The investigation remains ongoing. The NTSB has not yet issued a probable-cause determination; pending final analysis will examine oil samples, maintenance records and engine overhaul history. No statements have been released by Tarragon, Edge Performance or Rotax regarding the incident.