Vans RV6, N6RP: Accident occurred May 31, 2014 in Suffolk, Virginia

NTSB Identification: ERA14LA272
 14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, May 31, 2014 in Suffolk, VA
Aircraft: LANDRUM KELLY T VANS RV6, registration: N6RP
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed. NTSB investigators may not have traveled in support of this investigation and used data provided by various sources to prepare this aircraft accident report.

On May 31, 2014, about 0944 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur built Landrum Vans RV6, N6RP, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during a forced landing in Suffolk, Virginia. The private pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The local flight originated from William Tuck Airport (W78), South Boston, Virginia, at about 0830 and was destined for Suffolk Executive Airport (SFQ), Suffolk, Virginia.

According to the pilot's written statement, he intended to fly from W7B direct to SFQ to attend a fly-in event. After departing W7B at 0830 the pilot climbed the airplane to 3700 ft. mean sea level (msl) and leveled off for cruise flight. The pilot then descended to 2000 ft. msl about 10 nm from the airport. At the first waypoint designated by the fly-in instructions the pilot turned to a heading of 100 degrees magnetic. The engine RPM then went to redline, the pilot lost thrust and a reddish residue resembling hydraulic fluid from the propeller covered the windscreen. The pilot pitched the nose up, pulled the throttle off, and turned the airplane into the wind. During the descent the pilot selected an emergency landing site. He attempted to add power, but the engine yielded no thrust. While above the trees, the pilot realized he was not going to make the landing site and slowed the aircraft. As the airplane neared the tree tops the pilot pulled the control stick aft and the airplane stalled before making contact with the tree tops. The airplane subsequently fell through the trees, impacted the ground, and came to rest nose first.

The airplane was powered by an Eggenfellner 2.5L Subaru conversion with a Gen 3 V4 Prop Speed Reduction Unit (PSRU). The propeller is a VariProp model VP1 and, according to the designer, it uses Mil Spec 5606 hydraulic fluid to operate the constant speed propeller function.

The wreckage was retained by the NTSB for further examination.

AIRCRAFT FORCE LANDED IN A WOODED AREA, NEAR SUFFOLK, VA 

FAA Richmond FSDO-21

KELLY T. LANDRUM:   http://registry.faa.gov/N6RP

SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) A small plane crashed near Murphy’s Mill road in Suffolk Saturday morning.

According to a spokesman for Virginia State Police, the pilot was on his way to Suffolk’s Festival of Flight around 9:44 a.m. when the airplane experienced a mechanical failure.

When the pilot realized he we would not make the Suffolk Airport, he decided to try and land the plane in a field near Murphy’s Mill Road off Route 10. The pilot was unable to land in the field and crashed into the top of a group of trees, then fell to the ground after sitting on top of them for about 30 seconds.

The pilot, who is in his 50s and is from South Boston, Virginia, walked away from the wreckage with just a scratch, according to police. He did not need medical treatment.

Virginia State police are investigating the crash.