# Accident 20200919012309A: Coelho James J RV-4, Clovis, NM, September 19, 2020

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 19, 2020, 10:00 local time
- Place: Clovis, NM
- Airport: Aero Tech, Inc.
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.4158° N, 103.1478° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.4158&lon=-103.1478&mi=10
- Aircraft: N250LB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N250LB-2022-02-02) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Coelho James J RV-4 (registry code 05605XW, https://openairdocs.org/model/coelho-james-j-rv-4) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming IO-540 series (registry code 41530, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-540-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: COELHO JAMES J RV-4
- Reported engine: LYCOMING IO-540 SER
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 1
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR20LA310](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA310) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200919012309A

## Narrative

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

THE AIRCRAFT TOOK-OFF TO THE SOUTH FROM THE GRASS STRIP.  ON THE DAY OF THE EVENT, A WITNESS ON THE GROUND REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT CLIMBED TO APPROXIMATELY 300 FEET AND ROLLED TO THE RIGHT CRASHING INVERTED TO THE RIGHT OF THE RUNWAY.

INSPECTION OF THE CRASH SITE REVEALED THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 500 YARDS AFTER THE TAKEOFF POINT AND TO THE WEST OF THE RUNWAY.  IT STRUCK THE GROUND AT A VERY SHALLOW ANGLE AND WAS UPRIGHT, NOT INVERTED.  THE MAIN LANDING GEAR ATTACH BOLTS SHEARED AT THE FUSELAGE FLANGE, AND BOTH MAINS FOLDED UNDER THE WING.

THE AIRCRAFT SKID (UPRIGHT) ALONG THE GROUND APPROXIMATELY 100 YARDS AND THEN STRUCK A CATTLE GUARD.  THE CATTLE GUARD CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO BECOME AIRBORNE FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 YARDS, AFTER WHICH IT LANDED INVERTED AND STOPPED.

INSPECTION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS REVEALED CONTINUITY OF ALL CONTROL SURFACES.  THE AIRCRAFT HAD ADEQUATE FUEL AND THE WITNESS STATED THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS RUNNING NORMALLY.

THE PILOT WAS SEVERELY INJURED AND HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO BE INTERVIEWED.

## 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 WPR20LA310](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR20LA310), Sep 19, 2020: Vans RV4 (N250LB), Clovis, NM, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control during initial climb due to distraction, which resulted in an in-flight upset and impact with terrain.

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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