# Accident 20230408003959A: Stevens Kelly C RV-7, Morgan, UT, April 8, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 8, 2023, 19:36 local time
- Place: Morgan, UT
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.0081° N, 111.6807° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0081&lon=-111.6807&mi=10
- Aircraft: N17NK, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N17NK) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Stevens Kelly C RV-7 (registry code 05640B5, https://openairdocs.org/model/stevens-kelly-c-rv-7) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Titan IOX-370 SERIE (registry code 59471, https://openairdocs.org/engine/titan-iox-370-serie) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: STEVENS KELLY C RV-7
- Reported engine: TITAN IOX-370 SERIE
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 20,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA149) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230408003959A

## Narrative

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

ON APRIL 8, 2023 AT ~1910, THE PIC OF ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DEPARTED KBTF WITH AN INTENDED DESTINATION OF KBTF.  AFTER FLYING ~16 MILES EAST, THE PIC NOTICED A BURNT OIL SMELL WHEN HE OPENED THE HEATER.  HE IMMEDIATELY CLOSED THE HEATER AND CHANGED HEADING TO RETURN TO KBTF ANTICIPATING A MECHANICAL ISSUE.  ~2 MINUTES LATER, THE PIC NOTICED A LIGHT VIBRATION IN THE AIRCRAFT.  HE WENT TO ADJUST THE PROPELLER CONTROL BUT THE AIRCRAFT SHUTTERED AND OIL SPRAYED OVER THE WINDSCREEN ACCOMPANIED BY A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER.  THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN RAPIDLY DESCENDING FROM ~9000 FEET ELEVATION.  THE PIC RECORDED THAT THE CLOSEST AIRPORT WAS 42U BUT DID NOT BELIEVE THE AIRCRAFT WOULD MAKE IT THAT FAR AND BROADCASTED THE EMERGENCY.  AFTER LOOKING FOR A PLACE TO LAND, THE PIC COMMITTED TO A ROAD ON THE EAST SIDE OF THE VALLEY; HOWEVER, AS HE WAS DESCENDING HE NOTICED SEVERAL POWER LINES NEXT TO THE ROAD.  HE CHANGED COURSE WEST AND LANDED IN A FIELD WITH ~24 INCHES OF SNOW.  THE AIRCRAFT IMMEDIATELY FLIPPED OVER ITS NOSE AND LANDED UPSIDE-DOWN.  THE PIC TURNED OFF BATTERY MASTER SWITCH AND FUEL VALVE.  HE THEN PROCEEDED TO USE THE PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHER TO BREAK OPEN THE CANOPY AND SUCCESSFULLY EVACUATED THE AIRCRAFT.  THIS INVESTIGATION IS BEING CLOSED WITH FURTHER ACTION/AMENDMENTS REQUIRED BASED ON THE NTSB INVESTIGATION OF THE MECHANICAL FAILURE.

## 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 WPR23LA149](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA149), Apr 9, 2023: Stevens Kelly C RV-7 (N17NK), Morgan, UT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot/builder improperly torqued the propeller attachment bolts while reinstalling the propeller, which resulted in the fatigue failure of the bolts and the separation of the propeller assembly.

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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