What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On December 22, 2024, an experimental RV-7 with 2 people on board lost all engine power forcing the PIC to make an off-airport landing in a desert dry wash 14 miles wnw of Gila Bend (E63). The aircraft landed in rugged terrain, causing it to flip over onto its canopy on landing. There was fuel smell but no post-crash fire and the 2 occupants were eventually to break the canopy and exit the plane.
PIC employed his smart watch to notify help, after which they were rescued via helicopter.
PIC cited a gradual loss rpms at 4500 MSL, and was unable to restore power, leading to a full loss of power and the landing in the dry wash. Plane was always in controlled flight until landing accident sequence.
As the FAA filed it
ON DECEMBER 22, 2024, AN EXPERIMENTAL RV-7 WITH 2 PEOPLE ON BOARD LOST ALL ENGINE POWER FORCING THE PIC TO MAKE AN OFF-AIRPORT LANDING IN A DESERT DRY WASH 14 MILES WNW OF GILA BEND (E63). THE AIRCRAFT LANDED IN RUGGED TERRAIN, CAUSING IT TO FLIP OVER ONTO ITS CANOPY ON LANDING. THERE WAS FUEL SMELL BUT NO POST-CRASH FIRE AND THE 2 OCCUPANTS WERE EVENTUALLY TO BREAK THE CANOPY AND EXIT THE PLANE.
PIC EMPLOYED HIS SMART WATCH TO NOTIFY HELP, AFTER WHICH THEY WERE RESCUED VIA HELICOPTER.
PIC CITED A GRADUAL LOSS RPMS AT 4500 MSL, AND WAS UNABLE TO RESTORE POWER, LEADING TO A FULL LOSS OF POWER AND THE LANDING IN THE DRY WASH. PLANE WAS ALWAYS IN CONTROLLED FLIGHT UNTIL LANDING ACCIDENT SEQUENCE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.