20210826015049I

Incident · Minor damage

FAA incident report · Hungelmann William A RV6A · Edmonds, WA · August 26, 2021

Date: August 26, 2021 · 16:30 local
Place: Edmonds, WA
Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Minor damage
Aircraft: N776WH
Reported as: Hungelmann William A RV6A
Reported engine: Lycoming O-320-E2D
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0

N776WHRegistration cancelled Mar 3, 2022 · Hungelmann William A RV6AS/N 1 · Built 2000 Airframe modelHungelmann William A RV6A Engine modelAmateur-built UNKNOWN ENG

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.

August 26, 2021, RV-6, N776WH departed auburn, WA (S50) for darrington, WA (IC2). After 15 min, at 2000 AGL, pilot in command reported a loud violent noise causing him to hit his head on the canopy. PIC reported he did not hit anything. Engine went to idle. Engine did not respond to throttle movement. Engine stopped running. PIC attempted a restart unsuccessfully. PIC attempted to land on the shoreline at Edmonds, however too many people were on the beach. Pilot set up for a water landing about 50 yards off shore. Aircraft landed in the water. PIC departed the aircraft. Aircraft floated about 3 min before sinking in about 60 ft of water. Nearby boat picked up pilot. Aircraft sustained minor damage during ditching.

As the FAA filed it

AUGUST 26, 2021, RV-6, N776WH DEPARTED AUBURN, WA (S50) FOR DARRINGTON, WA (IC2). AFTER 15 MIN, AT 2000 AGL, PILOT IN COMMAND REPORTED A LOUD VIOLENT NOISE CAUSING HIM TO HIT HIS HEAD ON THE CANOPY. PIC REPORTED HE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING. ENGINE WENT TO IDLE. ENGINE DID NOT RESPOND TO THROTTLE MOVEMENT. ENGINE STOPPED RUNNING. PIC ATTEMPTED A RESTART UNSUCCESSFULLY. PIC ATTEMPTED TO LAND ON THE SHORELINE AT EDMONDS, HOWEVER TOO MANY PEOPLE WERE ON THE BEACH. PILOT SET UP FOR A WATER LANDING ABOUT 50 YARDS OFF SHORE. AIRCRAFT LANDED IN THE WATER. PIC DEPARTED THE AIRCRAFT. AIRCRAFT FLOATED ABOUT 3 MIN BEFORE SINKING IN ABOUT 60 FT OF WATER. NEARBY BOAT PICKED UP PILOT. AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED MINOR DAMAGE DURING DITCHING.