20040719014399A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Amtr RV-4 · South Prairie, WA · July 19, 2004

Date: July 19, 2004 · 10:30 local
Place: South Prairie, WA
Airport: Cawleys South Prairie
Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N901ER
NTSB investigation: NTSBSEA04LA137
Reported as: Amtr RV4
Reported engine: Lycoming O320*
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 1,500 total624 in this make and model25 in the last 90 days

N901ERRegistration cancelled Feb 2, 2005 · Root Earl S RV-4S/N 1620 · Built 1990 Airframe modelRoot Earl S RV-4 Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) On July 19th 2004 at 10:30 am Mr. Earl root departed cawley (south prarie) WA. Private airstrip in his RV-4 aircraft. Mr. Root departed to the south on runway 17. The aircraft lost power shortly after takeoff and Mr. Root made a 180 degree turn to the left (northbound) attempting to return to the runway. The aircraft landed and came to rest approximately 200 yards east of the runway at midfield. The aircraft was substantially damaged. Fuel was noted almost full in the right wing tank and none in the left tank. There was a smell of fuel in the left tank. The fuel selector was in the off position upon arrival at the scene.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) ON JULY 19TH 2004 AT 10:30 AM MR. EARL ROOT DEPARTED CAWLEY (SOUTH PRARIE) WA. PRIVATE AIRSTRIP IN HIS RV-4 AIRCRAFT. MR. ROOT DEPARTED TO THE SOUTH ON RUNWAY 17. THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF AND MR. ROOT MADE A 180 DEGREE TURN TO THE LEFT (NORTHBOUND) ATTEMPTING TO RETURN TO THE RUNWAY. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED AND CAME TO REST APPROXIMATELY 200 YARDS EAST OF THE RUNWAY AT MIDFIELD. THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED. FUEL WAS NOTED ALMOST FULL IN THE RIGHT WING TANK AND NONE IN THE LEFT TANK. THERE WAS A SMELL OF FUEL IN THE LEFT TANK. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS IN THE OFF POSITION UPON ARRIVAL AT THE SCENE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB SEA04LA137Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportBuckley, WAThe pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation which resulted in a loss of engine power due to fuel starvation during the initial climb after takeoff. The pilot's failure to select the proper fuel tank before takeoff and to maintain airspeed during the…Jul 19, 2004 · Substantial damage