# Accident 20000415013399A: Amtr RV4, Willows, CA, April 15, 2000 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: April 15, 2000, 11:19 local time - Place: Willows, CA - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: Normal Cruise - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 39.4995° N, 122.2799° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.4995&lon=-122.2799&mi=10 - Aircraft: N63SM, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N63SM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Smith Ray H JR RV-4 (registry code 056081K, https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-ray-h-jr-rv-4) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMTR RV4 - Reported engine: LYC O320A1A - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 3,780 total, 460 in this make and model, 35 in the last 90 days - NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX00LA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA155) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000415013399A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. (-23) SHORTLY AFTER REACHING CRUISE ALTITUDE, PILOT EXPERIENCED ELEVATOR CONTROL PROBLEMS. USING ELEVATOR TRIM AND ENGINE POWER HE MAINTAINED A CONTROLLED DESCENT BUT WAS FORCED TO LAND PREMATURELY 1 MILE SHORT OF DESTINATION AIRPORT. MINOR INJURIES TO PILOT AND OCCUPANT. AIRCRAFT OBTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. POST ACCIDENT EXAMINIATION REVEALED FWD ROD END OF ACFT ELEVAOR ROD BECAME DISENGAGED. (-4) ON APRIL 15, 2000, AT 1119 HOURS PACIFIC DAYLIGHT TIME, A HOMEBUILT SMITH RV-4, N63SM, MADE AN OFF-AIRPORT FORCED LANDING AFTER EXPERIENCING ELEVATOR PROBLEMS IN CRUISE FLIGHT AT WILLOWS, CALIFORNIA. THE AIRPLANE, OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE PILOT, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. THE PERSONAL FLIGHT, CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91, ORIGINATED FROM LINCOLN, CALIFORNIA, ABOUT 1045, AND WAS EN ROUTE TO WILLOWS. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE PASSENGER HAD BEEN FLYING THE AIRPLANE FROM THE BACKSEAT, AND ABOUT 8 MILES SOUTH OF WILLOWS, THE PASSENGERINFORMED HIM THAT HE HAD NO FORE OR AFT CONTROL AUTHORITY. THE PILOT TOOK THE CONTROLS AND COMFIRMED THAT THERE WAS NO ELEVATOR RESPONSE FROM THE STICK BUT THAT HE DID HAVE CONTROL CONTINUITY TO THE AILERONS. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE PLANNED TO LAND USING THE MANIPULATION OF A/C TRIM AND THROTTLE AS A MEANS OF CONTROLLING THE A/C'S PITCH ATTITUDE. IN AN EFFORT TO AVOID MAKING ANY MAJOR HEADING CHANGES, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON CLOSED RUNWAY 30 BECAUSE OF HIS PRESENT NEAR ALIGNMENT WITH THE RUNWAY. DUE TO THE LACK OF CONTROL AUTHORITY TO THE ELEVATOR, THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO GAIN ALTITUDE BY TRIMMING THE AIRPLANE IN THE FULL AFT POSITION. DUE TO INSUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO MAKE THE AIRPORT, THE PILOT REDUCED THE THROTTLE AND MIXTURE CONTROLS AND LANDED IN A RICE FIELD ABOUT 1 MILE SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT, COMING TO REST IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. A FAA INSPECTOR FROM THE SACRAMENTO FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE EXAMINED THE AIRPLANE FOLLOWING RECOVERY. HE REPORTED THAT THE REAR JAM NUT ON THE ELEVATOR PUSH ROD HAD WORKED LOOSE, ALLOWING THE OUSH ROD TO ROTATE OFF THE FORWARD CONNECTION. HE STATED THAT THE JAM NUT AND CONTROLROD WERE IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB LAX00LA155](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA155), Apr 15, 2000: Smith RV-4 (N63SM), Willows, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: Disconnection of the elevator push rod due to the owner/builder's improper installation of the rear jam nut on the elevator pushrod. ## Other reports on N63SM (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 19861004047689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861004047689A), Oct 4, 1986: Amtrvn VANSRV4 (N63SM), Lincoln, CA, Substantial damage. The engine failed during a turn and the aircraft impacted in an open field. The gascolator was found to be loose. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.