# Accident 20010808022279A: Purvis Ronald E RANS S-7 COURIER, Rockymount, VA, August 8, 2001

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 8, 2001, 11:15 local time
- Place: Rockymount, VA
- Damage: No damage
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.9891° N, 79.8890° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9891&lon=-79.8890&mi=10
- Aircraft: N56RP, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56RP-2001-12-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Purvis Ronald E RANS S-7 COURIER (registry code 05616YW, https://openairdocs.org/model/purvis-ronald-e-rans-s-7-courier) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (registry code 09050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (OpenAirDocs)
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC01LA205](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA205) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010808022279A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(-23) THE PILOT GROUND-LOOPED THE AIRCRAFT ON HIS FIRST TAKEOFF ATTEMPT ON RWY 090. WITNESSES SAW HIM PUSH THE AIRCRAFT BACK ONTO THE RUNWAY AND BACK TAXI TO THE ORIGINAL STARTING POINT TO ATTEMPT ANOTHER TAKEOFF. THE SECOND TAKEOFF ATTEMPT WAS SUCCESSFUL; HOWEVER, THE AIRCRAFT NEVER REACHED MORE THAN TREE TOP LEVEL, ABOUT 50 FEET. THE PILOT MADE WHAT APPEARED TO BE TWO LANDING ATTEMPTS, USING A LEFT-HAND PATTERN, BUT HE STILL NEVER REACHED MORE THAN APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET OF ALTITUDE. ON HIS THIRD DOWNWIND LEG, AT A POINT ABOUT EVEN WITH THE RUNWAY MID POINT, AND ABOUT 1/4 MILE AWAY, HE STRUCK A LARGE TREE, ABOUT 40 FEET ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. HE CRASHED 200 FEET AWAY, IN A LARGE GRASSY MEADOW, ON THE EDGE OF THE FOREST. THE PILOT STATED THE ENGINE OVERHEATED AND HE LOST POWER JUST PRIOR TO IMPACT. THE POST-CRASH INVESTIGATION SHOWS THAT AT THE TIME OF IMPACT, THE PROPELLER WAS NOT ROTATING. THE ENGINE TURNED FREELY BY HAND, AND BOTH CYLINDERS DEVELOPED GOOD COMPRESSION. PLENTY OF ENGINE COOLANT WAS ON THE GROUND, AND MORE THAN 10 GAL OF FUEL WAS ON BOARD. THE THROTTLE WAS FOUND PULLED ALL THE WAY BACK IN THE IDLE POSITION. THREE WITNESSES STATED THE ENGINE SOUNDED FINE UNTIL THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE TREE AND CRASHED.

## 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 NYC01LA205](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA205), Aug 8, 2001: Rans S-7 (N56RP), Sydnorsville, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: A loss of engine power due to an engine over-temperature condition, which resulted in a forced landing and subsequent collision with trees.

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.

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