ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 160427
This record has been locked for editing.
| Date: | Wednesday 11 September 2013 |
| Time: | 11:55 |
| Type: |  Van's RV-7 |
| Owner/operator: | Private |
| Registration: | N820RV |
| MSN: | 72751 |
| Year of manufacture: | 2008 |
| Total airframe hrs: | 287 hours |
| Engine model: | AMA/EXPR Lycoming IOX-360-A41N |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | near Jackson Hole Airport - KJAC, Jackson, WY -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Approach |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Jackson Hole, WY (JAC) |
| Loveland, CO (FNL) | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot, who was also the owner/builder of the experimental kit airplane, departed for a cross-country flight from his home airport. Witnesses reported that, following departure, they observed the airplane climb to about 500 to 600 ft above ground level while it was maneuvering onto the downwind leg. Witnesses also reported that the engine was producing abnormal sounds and appeared to lose power. While on the downwind leg, the pilot declared an emergency and indicated that the engine had lost power; the air traffic controller then cleared the airplane to turn right onto the base leg and land. Witnesses reported that, as the airplane was turning from the downwind to the base leg of the traffic pattern, a wing dropped and that the wings were then nearly perpendicular to the terrain. Given the reported wind speeds, the airplane would have encountered a 13- to 20-knot tailwind on the downwind leg and up to 20-knot right crosswind gusts while on the base leg. The tailwind would have resulted in a groundspeed that was much higher than the airspeed, and the pilot likely did not recognize that the airspeed was low. The airplane subsequently made a rapid descent and impacted terrain in a nose-low attitude. Ground scar analysis and wreckage fragmentation revealed that the airplane descended in a steep 45-degree, nose-down attitude before it impacted terrain, consistent with a loss of airplane control. A postimpact examination of the engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that could have precluded normal operation. The fuel system sustained too much fragmentation to determine if any malfunctions or failures had occurred.
Probable Cause: A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Also causal was the pilot’s failure to adequately compensate for the wind conditions, which resulted in his failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his subsequent loss of airplane control while maneuvering within the traffic pattern for landing.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 12-Sep-2013 03:21 | Geno | Added |
| 12-Sep-2013 07:06 | Alpine Flight | Updated [Time, Location, Damage, Narrative] |
| 11-Sep-2016 07:16 | junior sjc | Updated [Location, Source, Narrative] |
| 16-Sep-2016 05:43 | junior sjc | Updated [Narrative] |
| 19-Sep-2016 06:38 | junior sjc | Updated [Narrative] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:28 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency] |
| 29-Nov-2017 09:16 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
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