# Accident 20140705014629A: Lawson Ronald S EXPLORER, East Bend, NC, July 5, 2014

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 5, 2014, 19:50 local time
- Place: East Bend, NC
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Unknown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.1447° N, 80.5217° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.1447&lon=-80.5217&mi=10
- Aircraft: N6663K (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: LAWSON RONALD S EXPLORER
- Reported engine: BOMBARDIER ROTAX (ALL)
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Student
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA14LA338](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA338) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140705014629A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM A GRASS STRIP NEAR THE ACCIDENT SITE.  THE AIRCRAFT LOST POWER DUE TO APPARENT FUEL EXHAUSTION (BASED ON THE PILOT'S STATEMENT TO THE OFFICER ON THE SCENE AND THE FAA'S ONSITE INVESTIGATION.) THE PILOT EXECUTED AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A PLOWED FIELD AT 4048 CORNELIUS RD IN EAST BEND, NC.

THE AIRCRAFT WAS MOSTLY INTACT. THE AIRCRAFT'S METAL STRUCTURE HAD SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE MAIN GEAR WAS COLLAPSED ON BOTH SIDES.   I SAW NO DAMAGE TO THE WINGS, ONLY TO THE FUSELAGE.  THE METAL STRUCTURE WAS BENT AND BROKEN IN SEVERAL PLACES AND THE FIBERGLASS NOSE SECTION WAS PARTIALLY TORN AWAY FROM THE FRAME.   THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE OF FUEL LEAKAGE, AND THE FUEL TANK CONTAINED A VERY SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL.  THE FUEL CAP WAS ON TIGHT ALSO.

THE PILOT SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES AND WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. IT IS RUMORED THAT THERE WAS A PASSENGER ONBOARD THAT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES, BUT THIS OFFICE HAS BEEN UNABLE TO VERIFY THAT INFORMATION AT THIS TIME.

NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE TO CONTACT THE PILOT OF THE AIRCRAFT.  PHONE MESSAGES HAVE NOT BEEN RETURNED TO THIS DATE. A LETTER OF INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN SENT TO THE ADDRESS ON RECORD IN THE FAA DATABASE

## 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 ERA14LA338](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA14LA338), Jul 5, 2014: Lawson Ronald S Explorer (N6663K), East Bend, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: A total loss of engine power likely due to a failure of a rotary valve shaft seal and the pilot’s failure to detect and diagnose the impending failure during the preflight inspection.

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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