20200726011249A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Solberg Scott E VANS RV7 · Henefer, UT · July 26, 2020

Date: July 26, 2020 · 11:10 local
Place: Henefer, UT
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N514BS
NTSB investigation: NTSBWPR20LA239
Reported as: Solberg Scott E Vans RV7
Reported engine: Lycoming IO-540 series
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificates: Airline transport, flight instructor
Pilot’s flight hours: 20,200 total180 in this make and model18 in the last 90 days

N514BSRegistration cancelled Jun 26, 2023 · Solberg Scott E VANS RV7S/N 70845 · Built 2005 Airframe modelSolberg Scott E VANS RV7 Engine modelLycoming IO-540 seriesReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On July 26, 2020 at approximately 1110L, on a leg from kogd to khcr, the pilot leveled off at 9,500? And selected the alternate fuel tank. Next he turned the LH fuel tank boost pump on, monitored fuel flow and RPM, then pump off. As he turned the pump off he had a momentary RPM drop. He then turned the boost pump back on and selected the original tank. Again as the boost pump came off, another RPM drop. He then turned the pump back on and turned back toward kogd. This time he had a full power drop so he initiated the aircraft?s restart procedures, but to no avail. He made a mayday call on 121.9 and also on 122.8. He was then flying at max glide and looking for a suitable landing place. He opted for the road to Henefer, hwy 65. It had no traffic and he chose to land uphill. On short final, he secured the ignition, mixture and fuel sector. With no crts, no flaps, and no power, he touched down around 65KTS. The aircraft is a taildragger and it hit the prop, then both wing tips.

As the FAA filed it

ON JULY 26, 2020 AT APPROXIMATELY 1110L, ON A LEG FROM KOGD TO KHCR, THE PILOT LEVELED OFF AT 9,500? AND SELECTED THE ALTERNATE FUEL TANK. NEXT HE TURNED THE LH FUEL TANK BOOST PUMP ON, MONITORED FUEL FLOW AND RPM, THEN PUMP OFF. AS HE TURNED THE PUMP OFF HE HAD A MOMENTARY RPM DROP. HE THEN TURNED THE BOOST PUMP BACK ON AND SELECTED THE ORIGINAL TANK. AGAIN AS THE BOOST PUMP CAME OFF, ANOTHER RPM DROP. HE THEN TURNED THE PUMP BACK ON AND TURNED BACK TOWARD KOGD. THIS TIME HE HAD A FULL POWER DROP SO HE INITIATED THE AIRCRAFT?S RESTART PROCEDURES, BUT TO NO AVAIL. HE MADE A MAYDAY CALL ON 121.9 AND ALSO ON 122.8. HE WAS THEN FLYING AT MAX GLIDE AND LOOKING FOR A SUITABLE LANDING PLACE. HE OPTED FOR THE ROAD TO HENEFER, HWY 65. IT HAD NO TRAFFIC AND HE CHOSE TO LAND UPHILL. ON SHORT FINAL, HE SECURED THE IGNITION, MIXTURE AND FUEL SECTOR. WITH NO CRTS, NO FLAPS, AND NO POWER, HE TOUCHED DOWN AROUND 65KTS. THE AIRCRAFT IS A TAILDRAGGER AND IT HIT THE PROP, THEN BOTH WING TIPS.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB WPR20LA239Accident · Minor injuriesClass 3 · LimitedFinal reportHenefer, UTThe total loss of engine power due to the separation of the idler gear shaft bolts as a result of improper installation, which allowed for the idler gear to become disengaged.Jul 26, 2020 · Substantial damage