# Accident 20240617007659A: Leon P Archambault RV6A, Methuen, MA, June 17, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 17, 2024, 14:15 local time
- Place: Methuen, MA
- Airport: Lawrence Municipal Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 42.7353° N, 71.1210° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.7353&lon=-71.1210&mi=10
- Aircraft: N715PA, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N715PA) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Leon P Archambault RV6A (registry code 05636OG, https://openairdocs.org/model/leon-p-archambault-rv6a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360-A1A (registry code 41594, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1a) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: LEON P ARCHAMBAULT RV6A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 1
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 295 total, 70 in this make and model
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA24FA265](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA265) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240617007659A

## Narrative

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

ON JUNE 17, 2024, APPROXIMATELY 1415 EASTERN TIME, AN EXPERIMENTAL HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE, WAS INVOLVED IN AN AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT NEAR METHUEN, MASSACHUSETTS. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND THE PRIVATE PILOT WAS FATALLY INJURED.  THE AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATED UNDER TITLE 14 CFR PART 91 PERSONAL FLIGHT. SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE PILOT STATED, HE WAS HAVING A “PROBLEM". THE TOWER CONTROLLER CLEARED THE PILOT TO LAND ON ANY RUNWAY, THE AIRCRAFT DID NOT RETURN TO THE RUNWAY AND WAS OBSERVED MAKING A SLOW SHALLOW CONTROLLED DECENT OVER THE MERRIMACK RIVER WHERE IT WAS LATER FOUND INVERTED IN ABOUT 3 FEET OF WATER.

POST ACCIDENT EVALUATION OF THE AIRCRAFT DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT FUEL TANK CONTAINED NO FUEL AND THAT THE LEFT TANK CONTAINED APPROXIMATELY 18 GALLONS OF FUEL. THE FUEL SELECTOR WAS FOUND IN THE RIGHT TANK POSITION.   THE FUEL DISTRIBUTION LINES AND CARBURETOR WERE FOUND VOID OF FUEL. POST-ACCIDENT OPERATION OF THE ENGINE WAS SATISFACTORY WITH FUEL ADDED TO THE RIGHT TANK AND FUEL SELECTOR IN THE RIGHT TANK POSITION.  THE ENGINE WAS ALSO OPERATED SATISFACTORY FROM THE LEFT TANK WITH THE FUEL SELECTOR ROTATED TO THE LEFT TANK POSITION.

ENGINE TEARDOWN SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF ANY PREIMPACT MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES THAT WOULD HAVE PRECLUDED NORMAL OPERATIONS.

## 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 ERA24FA265](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24FA265), Jun 17, 2024: Vans RV6 (N715PA), Methuen, MA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to manage the available fuel supply, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel starvation.

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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