Pilot Debrief

COVELL KEVIN SCOTT VANS RV-4 near Collinsville, OK — 2010-05-29

Final reportCEN10LA276
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Date
2010-05-29
Location
Collinsville, OK, USA
Airport
OK93
Aircraft
COVELL KEVIN SCOTT VANS RV-4
Registration
N74RV
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
2
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

A loss of engine power shortly after takeoff for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to make a 180-degree turn at low level.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the pilot's decision to make a 180-degree turn at low level.

NTSB narrative

Shortly after takeoff, when the airplane was approximately 150 feet off the ground, the engine lost power. The pilot elected to make a 180-degree turn back to the airstrip to conduct the forced landing. During the turn, the airplane’s wing and nosed dropped and the airplane impacted terrain in a nearby pasture. A postcrash fire consumed a majority of airplane’s cabin/cockpit and the engine area sustained heat damage. A postaccident examination of the airplane and engine failed to identify a reason for the loss of engine power.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Engine power loss
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted takeoff after engine failure at 150 feet.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents8

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