Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Scottsdale, Arizona
Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf
Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms
Location: Sun Lakes, AZ
Accident Number: WPR18LA030
Date & Time: 11/12/2017, 1025 MST
Registration: N917VA
Aircraft: VANDERARK RV-10
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of engine power (total)
Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General Aviation - Personal
On November 12, 2017, about 1025 mountain standard time, an experimental amateur built Vanderark RV-10 airplane, N917VA, impacted terrain and vegetation during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Sun Lakes, Arizona. The private pilot was not injured; the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local flight which originated from the Chandler Municipal Airport (CHD), Chandler, Arizona, about 1015.
The pilot reported that while about 15 miles south of CHD and climbing through 4,000 ft mean sea level (msl), he noticed the smell of antifreeze and realized the engine was overheating. He reduced power to idle and executed a 180° turn toward CHD. As the airplane descended through about 1,500 ft, he added power but the engine did not respond. He attempted to land at a nearby closed airport, however, realized he was unable to reach it, and subsequently initiated a forced landing to an area of open desert. During the landing roll, the airplane struck several scrub bushes and the nose wheel and left main landing gear collapsed. Examination of the airplane by the pilot revealed that the left wing and fuselage were structurally damaged.
The airplane was powered by an LS1 series, eight-cylinder, liquid cooled automobile engine, manufactured by General Motors. It was equipped with two alternators and a water pump to circulate engine coolant. The alternators and water pump were connected by a common "serpentine" drive belt and driven by a pulley on the crankshaft. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, the airframe and engine had accumulated 51 hours total operational time.
Postaccident examination revealed that one of the two alternators was partially displaced, and that its upper and lower attach bolts were fractured. Examination further revealed that the alternator belt had detached.
Examination of the fractured bolts was conducted by a specialist from the NTSB Materials Laboratory. The lower attach bolt exhibited a fracture in the threaded portion of the bolt shank. The fracture surface of the lower attach bolt was smeared and damaged by apparent re-contact. The fracture surface was flat and perpendicular to the axis of the bolt shank with an area exhibiting a shear lip on one side. Ratchet marks were observed on the side opposing the shear lip, consistent with a fatigue fracture. The upper attach bolt also exhibited a fracture in the threaded portion of the bolt shank. The fracture surface exhibited ratchet marks on the periphery and crack arrest fronts extending towards the opposing side consistent with a fatigue fracture.
Pilot Information
Certificate: Private
Age: 63, Male
Airplane Rating(s): Single-engine Land
Seat Occupied: Left
Other Aircraft Rating(s): None
Restraint Used: 3-point
Instrument Rating(s): Airplane
Second Pilot Present: No
Instructor Rating(s): None
Toxicology Performed: No
Medical Certification: Class 3 Without Waivers/Limitations
Last FAA Medical Exam: 07/24/2017
Occupational Pilot: No
Last Flight Review or Equivalent: 11/28/2015
Flight Time: 840 hours (Total, all aircraft), 54 hours (Total, this make and model), 815 hours (Pilot In Command, all aircraft), 22 hours (Last 90 days, all aircraft), 9 hours (Last 30 days, all aircraft)
Aircraft and Owner/Operator Information
Aircraft Make: VANDERARK
Registration: N917VA
Model/Series: RV-10
Aircraft Category: Airplane
Year of Manufacture: 2014
Amateur Built: Yes
Airworthiness Certificate: Experimental
Serial Number: 40076
Landing Gear Type: Tricycle
Seats: 4
Date/Type of Last Inspection: Unknown
Certified Max Gross Wt.: 3199 lbs
Time Since Last Inspection:
Engines: Reciprocating
Airframe Total Time: 51 Hours at time of accident
Engine Manufacturer: Chevrolet
ELT: C126 installed, activated, did not aid in locating accident
Engine Model/Series: LS1
Registered Owner: On file
Rated Power: 290 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: KCHD, 1243 ft msl
Distance from Accident Site: 6 Nautical Miles
Observation Time: 1747 UTC
Direction from Accident Site: 75°
Lowest Cloud Condition: Clear
Visibility: 10 Miles
Lowest Ceiling: Broken / 20000 ft agl
Visibility (RVR):
Wind Speed/Gusts: 5 knots /
Turbulence Type Forecast/Actual: /
Wind Direction: 260°
Turbulence Severity Forecast/Actual: /
Altimeter Setting: 30.07 inches Hg
Temperature/Dew Point: 21°C / 2°C
Precipitation and Obscuration: No Obscuration; No Precipitation
Departure Point: Chandler, AZ (CHD)
Type of Flight Plan Filed: None
Destination: Chandler, AZ (CHD)
Type of Clearance: None
Departure Time: 1015 MST
Type of Airspace: Class G
Wreckage and Impact Information
Crew Injuries: 1 None
Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Passenger Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Fire: None
Ground Injuries: N/A
Aircraft Explosion: None
Total Injuries: 1 None
Latitude, Longitude: 33.242778, -111.926389 (est)
NTSB Identification: WPR18LA030
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, November 12, 2017 in Sun Lakes, AZ
Aircraft: VANDERARK RV-10, registration: N917VA
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 November 12, 2017, about 1025 mountain standard time, an experimental amateur built Vanderark RV-10 airplane, N917VA, impacted terrain and vegetation during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Sun Lakes, Arizona. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured; the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight which originated from the Chandler Municipal Airport (CHD), Chandler, Arizona, about 1015.
The pilot reported that while about 15 miles south of CHD and ascending through 4,000 feet msl, he noticed a smell of antifreeze and realized the engine was overheating. The pilot reduced power to idle and executed a 180-degree turn toward CHD. As the airplane descended through about 1,500 feet agl, the pilot attempted to add power and noted no response from the engine. The pilot stated that he attempted to land at a nearby closed airport, however, realized he was unable to make it and subsequently initiated a forced landing to an area of open desert. During the landing roll, the airplane struck several scrub bushes and the nose wheel and left main landing gear collapsed.
The airplane was recovered to a secure location for further examination.
No comments:
Post a Comment