# NTSB ATL94LA027: Wonder VAN'S Acft RV-6, N443MW, Ridgeland, SC, December 7, 1993 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 7, 1993, 13:10 local (18:10 UTC) - Place: Ridgeland, SC - Coordinates: 32.480213, -80.980613 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4802&lon=-80.9806&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 7, 1994 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 3332 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL94LA027 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3332/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL94LA027 ## Probable cause IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF THE MAGNETOS BY MAINTENANCE PERSONNEL, WHICH ALLOWED THE RIGHT MAGNETO TO COME LOOSE, OIL TO ESCAPE FROM THE ENGINE, AND SUBSEQUENT OIL STARVATION. ## Analysis BEFORE DESCENT, THE PILOT NOTED A SLIGHT ENGINE VIBRATION. DURING DESCENT, HE NOTICED THAT THE ELECTRONIC TACHOMETER FOR THE RIGHT MAGNETO WAS READING ZERO AND BLUE SMOKE BEGAN ENTERING THE COCKPIT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT OIL BEGAN COVERING PORTIONS OF THE WINDSCREEN AND THE ENGINE SEIZED. HE MADE AN EMERGENCY LANDING IN A COTTON FIELD ABOUT SEVEN MILES WEST OF THE DESTINATION AIRPORT. DURING THE LANDING ROLL, THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED AN AREA OF SOFT DIRT AND NOSED OVER. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE RIGHT MAGNETO HAD SEPARATED FROM THE CRANKCASE, CAUSING A LARGE HOLE FROM WHICH OIL COULD ESCAPE FROM THE ENGINE. THE LEFT MAGNETO WAS ALSO FOUND IN THE EARLY STAGES OF SEPARATION FROM THE ENGINE. THE MAGNETOS HAD BEEN INSTALLED 16 HOURS BEFORE THE ACCIDENT BY A CERTIFIED REPAIR STATION. ## Factual narrative On December 7, 1993, at 1310 eastern standard time, a home built Wonder Van's Aircraft RV-6, N443MW, was substantially damaged following a collision with terrain during an emergency landing near Ridgeland, South Carolina. The airline transport pilot received minor injuries in the accident. The aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight. The flight departed Lawrenceville, Georgia at 1200. The pilot reported that prior to his initial descent, the engine developed a slight vibration of increasing intensity. The pilot then noted that during the descent, the vibration increased and the electronic tachometer on the right magneto went to zero. The pilot then reported that blue smoke entered the cockpit and oil began spilling onto the windscreen, followed by an engine failure. The pilot executed an emergency landing in a cotton field approximately 7 miles west of the Ridgeland airport. During landing roll, the landing gear hit an area of soft dirt and the airplane flipped over, causing damage to the vertical and horizontal stabilizers, rudder, and left wing. Post accident investigation of the aircraft engine revealed that the right magneto had separated from the engine. There was a large hole in the top of the crankcase where the magneto had been mounted. The left magneto was also found in the early stages of separation. Both magnetos had been installed on the engine approximately 16 hours before the accident by a certified repair facility. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, maneuvering - ignition system,magneto - loose (cause) - maintenance,installation - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - fluid,oil - leak (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft ## Aircraft - Registration: [N443MW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N443MW), registered now, S/N 21057 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WONDER VAN'S ACFT RV-6 (VAN'S ACFT) - Registry model: [Wonder Michael S RV-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/wonder-michael-s-rv-6) (registry code 05608PG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 21057 - Airframe hours: 242 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A/D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Davis, Raymond D. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 19, 1993, 88 hours before - Departed: LZU, LAWRENCEVILLE, GA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; commercial, airline transport, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 20,000 total, 150 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ATL, 190 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19931207046119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19931207046119A), Dec 7, 1993: Amtr RV6, Ridgeland, SC, Substantial damage. On descent engine vibration. Magneto quit. Smoke. Oil on windshield. Engine quit. Right mag came off leaving hole. ## Other investigations on N443MW (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 FTW97LA283](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW97LA283), Jul 27, 1997: Wonder RV-6 (N443MW), Franktown, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's failure to maintain control of the aircraft during landing roll. A factor was the uneven runway surface. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.