Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Louisville, Kentucky
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/N924WZ
Accident Number: ERA16LA281
Date & Time: 08/07/2016, 1709 CDT
Registration: N924WZ
Aircraft: VANS RV4
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Fuel related
Injuries: 1 Serious
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On August 7, 2016, about 1709 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Vans RV-4, N924WZ airplane, was substantially damaged during a forced landing while on approach to Miles Field Airport (3KY9), Shelbyville, Kentucky. The private pilot owner was seriously injured. No flight plan was filed for the personal flight that originated at the Capital City Airport (FFT), Frankfort, Kentucky. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot completed a series of touch-and-go landings at 3KY9, flew to FFT to refuel, and was returning to 3KY9 at the time of the accident.
In a statement to the FAA, the pilot reported that he observed a deer while on the final approach leg of the traffic pattern and he elected to execute a low approach. He stated the engine was "running fine" until he applied full power on climbout; then the engine only produced partial power. Because the airplane was still able to climb, the pilot elected to fly the traffic pattern and make another approach. After turning onto the base leg of the traffic pattern, he added carburetor heat and 10 degrees of flaps. After he reduced engine power on the final approach leg of the traffic pattern, the engine began "running bad" and "a little rough." The airplane began sinking too fast, the pilot added full power and turned the carburetor heat off. The engine continued to lose power and the airplane kept descending until it impacted terrain about 200 feet from the runway.
The airplane's wings sustained leading edge damage, the cockpit was heavily damaged and folded open, and there was significant damage to the firewall.
The airplane was equipped with a Lycoming O-320, 150-horsepower engine. Initial examination of the engine by an FAA inspector revealed that both magnetos produced spark at their respective distributor blocks and the spark plugs appeared to be new and undamaged. The fuel selector was in the "ON" position.
The pilot's total flight experience could not be reconciled, but at the time of his most recent application for an FAA medical certificate on August 13, 2015, he reported 170 total hours of flight experience.
The closest weather reporting facility was the about 11 miles east of the accident site. At 1653, an aviation routine weather report at FFT was reporting in part: temperature 86° F; dewpoint 57° C.
An FAA carburetor icing probability chart indicated the temperature and dew point conditions were conducive to the formation of serious icing at glide power. According to the FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, carburetor ice occurs due to the effect of fuel vaporization and the decrease in air pressure in the carburetor's venturi, which can cause a sharp temperature decrease in the carburetor. If water vapor in the air condenses when the carburetor temperature is at or below freezing, ice may form on the internal surfaces of the carburetor, including the throttle valve. This then restricts the flow of the fuel/air mixture and reduces engine power. Generally, the first indication of carburetor icing in an airplane with a fixed-pitch propeller is a decrease in engine rpm, which may be followed by engine roughness. Under certain conditions, carburetor ice can build unnoticed until power is added.
The handbook further described that carburetor heat is an anti-icing system that preheats the air before it reaches the carburetor, and is intended to keep the fuel/air mixture above the freezing temperature to prevent the formation of carburetor ice. Carburetor heat can be used to melt ice that has already formed in the carburetor if the accumulation is not too great, but using carburetor heat as a preventative measure is the better option.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 59, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied:
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used:
Instrument Rating(s): None
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 With Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 08/13/2015
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent:
Flight Time: 170 hours (Total, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: VANS
Registration: N924WZ
Model/Series: RV4
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2016
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 3218
Landing Gear Type: Tailwheel
Seats: 2
Date/Type of Last Inspection:
Certified Max Gross Wt.:
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: 1 Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time:
Engine Manufacturer: Lycoming
ELT:
Engine Model/Series: O-320
Registered Owner: Jules Roberie
Rated Power: 150 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: FFT, 804 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 11 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 2053 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 70°
Lowest Cloud Condition:
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 6000 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 6 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: / None
Wind Direction: 90°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: / N/A
Altimeter Setting: 29.96 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 30°C / 15°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: FRANKFORT, KY (FFT)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Shelbyville, KY (3KY9)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: CDT
Type of Airspace: Class G
Airport Information
Airport: MILES FIELD (3KY9)
Runway Surface Type: Grass/turf
Airport Elevation: 850 ft
Runway Surface Condition: Dry
Runway Used: 05
IFR Approach: None
Runway Length/Width: 3000 ft / 75 ft
VFR Approach/Landing: Forced Landing
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 Serious
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 Serious
Latitude, Longitude: 38.122778, -85.125833
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