Pilot Debrief

SHOUP RONALD R RV-6A near Milton, FL — 2012-04-30

Final reportERA12LA312
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Date
2012-04-30
Location
Milton, FL, USA
Airport
16FL
Aircraft
SHOUP RONALD R RV-6A
Registration
N819RS
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

NTSB narrative

The airplane began to experience an intermittent loss of engine power during the initial climb, and a witness observed black smoke coming from the engine exhaust. The pilot maneuvered the airplane for a landing to the opposite end of the departure runway; however, he overshot the runway and performed a forced landing to a field. During the forced landing, the nose gear collapsed, and the airplane nosed over, came to rest inverted, and was consumed by a postcrash fire. Postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The carburetor, gascolator, fuel pump, and fuel lines were destroyed by fire and could not be examined. The airplane had been operated for about 25 hours since its most recent condition inspection, which was performed about 4 months prior. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power; however, the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted takeoff upon initial engine power loss.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 11 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents11

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