# Accident 20051011023539A: RDA04, Clovis, NM, October 11, 2005

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 11, 2005, 08:52 local time
- Place: Clovis, NM
- Airport: Clovis Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Forced/Precautionary Landing
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.4250° N, 103.0792° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4250&lon=-103.0792&mi=10
- Aircraft: N835RA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N835RA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Appel Richard D R D A 04 (registry code 05616MS, https://openairdocs.org/model/appel-richard-d-r-d-a-04) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RDA04
- Reported engine: AMTRVW VW*
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,688 total, 198 in this make and model, 34 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX06CA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA007) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051011023539A

## Narrative

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

(-23) ON OCTOBER 11, 2005 AT APPROXIMATELY 0852 LOCAL TIME, THE PILOT OF EXPERIMENTAL AMATEUR BUILT AIRCRAFT N835RA, A MODEL RDA 04 (HUMMELBIRD), EXECUTED A TAKE OFF FROM RUNWAY 22 AT CLOVIS MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (CVN). THE AIRPLANE EXPERIENCED A ROUGH RUNNING ENGINE SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF, THE PILOT ESTIMATED THAT HE WAS 300 FT AGL AT THAT POINT. THE PILOT INITIATED A TEARDROP TURN TO THE LEFT TO TRY TO RETURN TO RUNWAY 22. THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER AND ALTITUDE AND THE PILOT DECIDED TO LAND IN THE GRASSY AREA APPROXIMATELY 600 FEET EAST OF RUNWAY 22. THE AIRCRAFT MAIN GEAR INITIALLY HIT AN EMBANKMENT SURROUNDING A PLAYA LAKE EAST OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN AND CONTINUED NORTH FOR APPROXIMATELY 528 FEET THEN LANDED HARD CAUSING BOTH MAIN LANDING GEAR TO SHEAR CLOSE TO THEIR ATTACH POINTS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A HEADING OF APPROXIMATELY 040 DEGREES AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. THE MAIN GEAR CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING SPAR. THE FUSELAGE BUCKLED AFT OF THE CANOPY LOCATION. THE PROPELLER BLADES WERE DAMAGED ON IMPACT, AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING LEADING EDGE AND RIGHT HORIZONTAL STABILIZER. THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED. NO OTHER OCCUPANTS WERE ONBOARD.

## 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 LAX06CA007](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX06CA007), Oct 11, 2005: Appel RDA 04 (N835RA), Clovis, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: a loss of engine power due to water contamination of the fuel system. The inadequate placement of the fuel system drain by the builder was a factor.

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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