# Accident 20170926019899A: Bellet James J VANS RV-8, Orange, MA, September 26, 2017

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 26, 2017, 12:50 local time
- Place: Orange, MA
- Airport: Orange Municipal
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.5700° N, 72.2886° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5700&lon=-72.2886&mi=10
- Aircraft: N184SJ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N184SJ-2019-04-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Bellet James J VANS RV-8 (registry code 05615GO, https://openairdocs.org/model/bellet-james-j-vans-rv-8) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming I0360 series (registry code 41515, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BELLET JAMES J VANS RV-8
- Reported engine: LYCOMING I0360 SER
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,500 total, 730 in this make and model, 36 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA17CA557](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA557) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170926019899A

## Narrative

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

ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2017, AT APPROXIMATELY 12:10 PM, AIRCRAFT N184SJ WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AT THE ORANGE MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (ORE) LOCATED IN ORANGE, MA. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^  PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ WAS ACTING AS THE PILOT IN COMMAND. DURING THE MORNING PRECEDING THE ACCIDENT, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^STATED THAT HE PERFORMED A PRE-FLIGHT OF HIS AIRCRAFT, OBTAINED A WEATHER BRIEFING OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT THEN DEPARTED ORE AS THE TRAIL AIRCRAFT IN A FLIGHT OF TWO TO AUGUSTA, ME.  UPON DEPARTURE AND CLIMB OUT FROM RUNWAY 32, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ NOTICED CYLINDER HEAD TEMPERATURES INDICATING 500 DEGREES. HE ATTEMPTED TO RETURN TO ORE FOR TROUBLE SHOOTING. ON THE DOWNWIND TO BASE TRANSITION TO RUNWAY 32, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED. THE AIRCRAFT ABRUPTLY LOST ALTITUDE APPROACHING THE BASE LEG  OF RUNWAY 32. HE THEN IMPACTED THE SOFT DIRT APPROXIMATELY THIRTY FEET TO THE SOUTH SIDE OF RUNWAY 32 HEADING IN A NORTHERLY DIRECTION CROSSING RUNWAY 32 AT ABOUT ONE THIRD FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE DISPLACED THRESHOLD. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON THE NORTH SIDE OF RUNWAY 32 IN THE DIRT. SERIOUS INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED BY PILOT AND PASSENGER. ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AND FOUND THE ENGINE COWL PLUG STILL INSTALLED IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE COWL.

## 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 GAA17CA557](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA557), Sep 26, 2017: Bellet James J Vans RV 8 (N184SJ), Orange, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to remove the engine cowl plugs during preflight, which resulted in excessive engine cylinder head temperatures during climb and a total loss of engine power.

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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