# Accident 20140525013519A: Divis S L/Waltrip A J VANS RV-4, Harpswell, ME, May 25, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: May 25, 2014, 19:26 local time
- Place: Harpswell, ME
- Airport: Farr Field
- Damage: Minor damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.7797° N, 70.0156° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7797&lon=-70.0156&mi=10
- Aircraft: N403WD, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N403WD) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Divis S L/Waltrip A J VANS RV-4 (registry code 05615QT, https://openairdocs.org/model/divis-s-l-waltrip-a-j-vans-rv-4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360 series (registry code 41575, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DIVIS S L/WALTRIP A J VANS RV-4
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 4,071 total, 280 in this make and model, 1 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA14CA265](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA265) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140525013519A

## Narrative

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

PILOT REPORTED THAT HE DEPARTED 2W5, MARYLAND AIRPORT, INDIAN HEAD MARYLAND, TO BXM, BRUNSWICK EXECUTIVE AIRPORT, BRUNSWICK MAINE. TIME ENROUTE WAS PLANNED AND FILED FOR 3 HOURS AND CONSERVATIVELY AFFORDED 45 MINUTES OF RESERVE TIME. THE PILOT REPORTED NORMAL START, TAXI AND TAKEOFF HOWEVER CLIMBOUT WAS RESTRICTED TO 1500?. THE PILOT ALSO REPORTED WEATHER ALONG ROUTE FROM NEW YORK CITY TO PORTLAND THAT REQUIRED ALTITUDE AND COURSE DEVIATIONS TO AVOID BUILD-UPS. AT APPROXIMATELY 10 NM NORTHEAST OF PORTLAND, PILOT REPORTED PENDING ENGINE FAILURE AND LANDED AT FARR FIELD, ME33.

THE PILOT STATED, ?IN RETROSPECT, I BELIEVE THE FOLLOWING WERE KEY CONTRIBUTING FACTORS.

THE PROPELLER FLOWN HAS RECENTLY BEEN INSTALLED ON THE AIRCRAFT AND ITS SPECIFICATIONS CALL FOR A HIGHER RPM THAN I TYPICALLY FLY.  PREVIOUS TEST DATA, TO INCLUDE A CROSS-COUNTRY FLIGHT FROM NORTHERN ALABAMA TO NORTHERN VIRGINIA INDICATED A 7.9 GALLONS/HOUR RATE OF CONSUMPTION.  THE WEATHER/WINDS IN THE BRUNSWICK PROFILE KEPT ME AT NO HIGHER THAN 7,500? MSL; AN AVERAGE REDUCTION OF 3,000 FEET FROM THE TEST SORTIE.  THIS ALONG WITH A HIGHER RPM PRODUCED A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER RATE OF CONSUMPTION; LIKELY MORE THAN AN ADDITIONAL 2 GALLONS/HOUR. THOUGH A LESSER FACTOR, COURSE DEVIATIONS FOR WEATHER WERE LIKELY ALSO A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR.  LASTLY, THE ADDITIONAL WEIGHT OF MY WIFE AND HER LUGGAGE WERE NEARLY 80 LBS. MORE THAN THE GEAR/LUGGAGE PACKED WITH ME ON THE PREVIOUS TEST CROSS-COUNTRY.  TAKEN TOGETHER, THESE KINDS OF ELEMENTS APPEAR TO HAVE A SIGNIFICANT NEGATIVE EFFECT ON FUEL EFFICIENCY."

UPON INSPECTION OF THE AIRCRAFT, FOUND BOTH WING TANKS EMPTY, RIGHT LANDING GEAR BENT AFT, FIREWALL DAMAGE NEAR RIGHT LANDING GEAR ATTACHMENT AND TAIL DAMAGE NEAR TAILWHEEL.

## 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 ERA14CA265](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14CA265), May 25, 2014: Divis S L/Waltrip A J RV 4 (N403WD), Harpswell, ME, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight and in-flight planning which resulted in total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.

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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