Van's Aircraft RV-7A, personal flight conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, N19MM: Accident occurred June 24, 2018 in Alexander City, Tallapoosa County, Alabama

The National Transportation Safety Board did not travel to the scene of this accident.

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Vestavia, Alabama

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

http://registry.faa.gov/N19MM

Location: Alexander City, AL
Accident Number: ERA18LA177
Date & Time: 06/24/2018, 0920 CDT
Registration: N19MM
Aircraft: CRAWFORD RV-7
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (total)
Injuries: 2 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal 

On June 24, 2018, about 0920 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built RV-7A, N19MM, was destroyed when it impacted trees and power lines during a forced landing in Alexander City, Alabama. The airline transport pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight that originated from Atlanta Regional Airport-Falcon Field (FFC), Atlanta, Georgia, destined for Thomas C Russell Field (ALX), Alexander City, Alabama. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

According to the pilot, the accident flight was the first flight since he had taken the airplane to have a condition inspection performed. The mechanic performing the condition inspection advised the pilot that he needed his hangar space and asked the pilot to remove his airplane. The pilot assumed that the condition inspection was completed. During the preflight inspection, the pilot examined the engine, put the engine cowling back on, added 1 qt. of oil, and secured the oil cap. He flew for about 45 minutes and everything "was working correctly." The airplane was at 2,000 ft above ground level when the pilot reduced the throttle and the engine "popped" twice and then experienced a total loss of engine power. He noted the fuel gauges indicated 21 gallons of fuel remaining, switched the fuel selector valve position and turned towards ALX. At that time, the airplane was about 4 miles from runway 18.

The pilot did not think the airplane would glide to the runway, so he turned to the right and tried to land in a field. During the approach, the airplane contacted tree tops and power lines that the pilot did not see. The airplane then impacted terrain and the occupants egressed through the tip-up canopy. The pilot further stated that the power lines started a fire, which then consumed the airplane. Additionally, the maintenance logbooks were destroyed in the fire. After the accident, the pilot learned that the condition inspection was not completed by the mechanic, and nor had the mechanic endorsed the airplane's logbooks .

Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the fire consumed a majority of the center of the airplane. The propeller blades exhibited thermal damage and there was no evidence of impact damage. The electrical cable that the airplane impacted was draped over the spinner and there were no signs that the propeller was rotating upon impact with the wires or trees. A small quantity of unburned fuel was noted the ground.

Examination of the wreckage by a National Transportation Safety Board investigator revealed that the engine was intact but fire damaged. The accessory case was melted, and all accessories were missing. The top spark plugs were removed for examination. The propeller was still attached to the engine and would not rotate by hand. A lighted borescope was used to examine the cylinders, pistons and valves. No anomalies were noted.

The two-seat, single-engine, low-wing airplane was built in 2017, and equipped with a Lycoming YIO-360-series engine. The most recent condition inspection could not be verified since the logbooks were destroyed in the fire. The pilot reported that the airframe and engine had 76 hours of total time.

In an interview with the mechanic, he stated that he had not completed the condition inspection and still had several questions that needed to be answered before he could conclude the inspection. He further stated that the engine inspection was complete, but he did not have a chance to look at the fuel filter or the fuel system.

The pilot held an airline transport pilot certificate and a flight instructor certificate, each with ratings for airplane single-engine land and multi-engine land. His most-recent FAA first class medical certificate was issued on April 18, 2018. He reported 13,465 total hours of flight experience of which 75 hours were in the RV-7A.

At 0815, the weather recorded at ALX included broken clouds at 1,100 ft, winds from 240° at 3 knots. The temperature was 26°C, the dew point was 26°C and the altimeter setting was 30.06 inches of mercury. 

Pilot Information

Certificate: Airline Transport
Age: 60, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Multi-engine Land; Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 5-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 1 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 04/18/2018
Occupational Pilot: Yes
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 06/10/2018
Flight Time:  13465 hours (Total, all aircraft), 75 hours (Total, this make and model), 123 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 3 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft), 1 hours (Last 24 hours, all aircraft)

Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information

Aircraft Make: CRAWFORD
Registration: N19MM
Model/Series: RV-7 A
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2017
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 72545
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection: Condition
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 1800 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:  at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT: C126 installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: YIO-360-M1B
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 180 hp
Operator: On file
Operating Certificate(s) Held: None 

Meteorological Information and Flight Plan

Conditions at Accident Site: Visual Conditions
Condition of Light: Day
Observation Facility, Elevation: KALX, 686 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 1 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1315 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 159°
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Visibility:  10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 1100 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 3 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 240°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 30.06 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 26°C / 26°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Atlanta, GA (FFC)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: ALEXANDER CITY, AL (ALX)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 0943 EDT
Type of Airspace: Class E

Airport Information

Airport: THOMAS C RUSSELL FLD (ALX)
Runway Surface Type: Asphalt
Airport Elevation: 685 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 18
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 5422 ft / 96 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing

Wreckage and Impact Information

Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Destroyed
Passenger Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Fire: On-Ground
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 2 None
Latitude, Longitude: 32.928889, -85.969444 (est)

ALEXANDER CITY, AL (WSFA) - A plane crashed in Alex City Sunday morning, according to the Alex City Fire Department. 

According to a Facebook post by the fire department, a crew was at the scene of the crash behind Taco Bell. The Taco Bell is located off of Highway 280. 

Photos from the scene show the plane on fire, but the fire department's post says the two occupants of the plane managed to escape unharmed before the fire started. 

Power crews were at the scene repairing lines that came down during the crash. The power lines are back up, and Alexander City Lights and Power officials say the only places without power were the Taco Bell and a nearby swimming pool.  

WSFA reporter Jordyn Elston reported that the occupants of the plane were a grandfather and grandson. 

Video from an Alex City resident shows huge plumes of smoke and flames coming from the scene after the crash. 

Story and video:  http://www.wsfa.com