# Accident 20030228002129A: Amtr RV3, Phoenix, AZ, February 28, 2003

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 28, 2003, 17:00 local time
- Place: Phoenix, AZ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Descent
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.7917° N, 112.1292° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.7917&lon=-112.1292&mi=10
- Aircraft: N87BC, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N87BC-2006-04-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Creitz Robert D RV-3 (registry code 05608F8, https://openairdocs.org/model/creitz-robert-d-rv-3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR RV3
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 5,500 total, 40 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX03LA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA101) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030228002129A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON FEBRUARY 28, 2003, ABOUT 1020 MOUNTAIN STANDARD TIME, AN EXPERIMENTAL RV-3, N87BC, EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND MADE A FORCED LANDING ON A DIRT ACCESS ROAD ABOUT 4 MILES NORTH OF DEER VALLEY, ARIZONA. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT/OWNER WAS OPERATING THE AIRPLANE UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF 14 CFR PART 91 OF THE FEDERAL AVIATION REGULATIONS. THE COMMERCIAL PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED; THE AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PERSONAL LOCAL FLIGHT DEPARTED DEER VALLEY ABOUT 0945. DAY VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN HAD BEEN FILED. THE PRIMARY WRECKAGE WAS AT 33 DEGREES 47.30 MINUTES NORTH LATITUDE AND 112 DEGREES 07.45 MINUTES WEST LONGITUDE. IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW, THE PILOT RELATED THAT WHILE FLYING IN THE AREA NORTH OF DEER VALLEY HE NOTICED A DECREASE IN ENGINE POWER. HE APPLIED CARBURETOR HEAT AND TURNED ON THE FUEL BOOST PUMP; HE ALSO MANIPULATED THE THROTTLE. WHEN THE ENGINE QUIT, THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY AND ADVISED THE TOWER HE WAS MAKING A FORCED LANDING. HE CHOSE TO MAKE THE LANDING ON A DIRT SERVICE ROAD ADJACENT TO THE EASTSIDE OF HIGHWAY 17 ABOUT A 1/2 MILE SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 74, APPROXIMATELY 4 NAUTICAL MILES NORTH OF THE PHOENIX DEER VALLEY AIRPORT (DVT). THE DIRT ROAD WAS MUDDY DUE TO PREVIOUS RAIN SHOWERS. AFTER TOUCHDOWN THE AIRPLANE'S LANDING GEAR STRUCK A ROCK IN THE MUD. THE AIRPLANE CAME TO REST INVERTED, AND THE PILOT WAS NOT ABLE TO EXTRACT HIMSELF FROM THE WRECKAGE WITHOUT ASSISTANCE FROM WITNESSES WHO STOPPED TO HELP. (-23) PILOT WAS RETURNING FROM THE DEER VALLY AIRPORT (DVT) NW PRACTICE AREA. PILOT REDUCED POWER FOR DESCENT. UPON LEVEL OFF, PILOT APPLIED POWER BUT ENGINE SPUTTERED. PILOT SUSPECTED CARBURETOR ICE AND APPLIED CARB HEAT, BUT TO NO AVAIL. ENGINE STOPPED AND PILOT EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING ON AN ACCESS ROAD PARALLELING I-17 FREEWAY NEAR THE CAREFREE HIGHWAY (SE OF THE INTERSECTION). UPON LANDING, LEFT MAIN GEAR SUNK INTO SOFT DIRT (FROM PREVIOUS RAIN) AND STRUCK A SUNKEN ROCK, WHICH BROKE THE LEFT WHEEL FAIRING OFF AND CAUSED AN "END-OVER". THE EMPENNAGE STRUCK THE GROUND AND BROKE OFF JUST FORWARD OF THE HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. WITNESSES RESPONDED AND AIDED AIRMAN OUT OF THE AIRPLANE.

## 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 LAX03LA101](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA101), Feb 28, 2003: Creitz, Robert D RV-3 (N87BC), Deer Valley, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper use of carburetor heat, which resulted in carburetor icing and loss of engine power.

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.