# Accident 20110704013459A: Fessenden Alfred EXPERMENTAL RV-4, Okeechobee, FL, July 4, 2011

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 4, 2011, 09:45 local time
- Place: Okeechobee, FL
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 27.5419° N, 80.8331° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.5419&lon=-80.8331&mi=10
- Aircraft: N3226N, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3226N) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Fessenden Alfred EXPERMENTAL RV-4 (registry code 05613W7, https://openairdocs.org/model/fessenden-alfred-expermental-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: FESSENDEN ALFRED EXPERMENTAL RV-4
- Reported engine: LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 466 total, 372 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA11LA400](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA400) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110704013459A

## Narrative

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

07/04/2011 THIS AIRCRAFT WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE TAKING OFF FROM RUNWAY 11, A 3000' GRASS STRIP, LOCATED IN INDIAN HAMMOCK AIRPORT, IN FORT DRUM, FLORIDA.  THE PILOT STATED THAT "AS THE AIRCRAFT GAINED ALTITUDE OVER THE RUNWAY, AT ABOUT 30' AGL, THE ENGINED SPUTTERED TWICE AND CUT-OFF.  THE PILOT OBSERVED THAT HE WAS ABOUT HALF WAY DOWN THE RUNWAY WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE AIRCRAFT DOWN ON THE REMAINING 1500' OF RUNWAY.  HOWEVER, AFTER REALIZING THAT HE COULD NOT LAND SAFELY ON THE RUNWAY AND KNOWING THAT AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY THERE WAS A LARGE DRAINAGE CANAL, HE DECIDED TO TURN THE AIRCRAFT TO RIGHT AND LAND ON SOME PALMETTO SCRUB.  AT THAT TIME THE RIGHT WING IMPACTED THE RUNWAY AND CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO VIOLENTLY SPIN AROUND AND IMPACT THE TERRAIN CAUSING THE ENGINE MOUNT TO SNAP OFF OF THE AIRFRAME AND THE LANDING GEAR TO SEVER.  THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON THE CENTERLINE OF THE RUNWAY AT THE EAST END OF THE RUNWAY.  THE PILOT AND HIS DAUGHTER WERE NOT INJURED AND THERE WAS NOT A POST ACCIDENT FIRE.

## 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 ERA11LA400](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA400), Jul 4, 2011: Fessenden Alfred Expermental RV-4 (N3226N), Fort Drum, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

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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