# NTSB CEN10LA253: Dearmond Clint RV-6A, N1257E, Sheboygan, WI, May 16, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 16, 2010, 11:15 local (16:15 UTC) - Place: Sheboygan, WI - Coordinates: 43.769721, -87.851669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7697&lon=-87.8517&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 76028 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA253 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76028/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76028 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA253 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power due to a fuse failure in the ignition system. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Ignition system: ignition system wiring](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057497): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Dearmond Clint RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057497/cases.md?model=05607W4), [All aircraft, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057497/cases.md) - [Terrain: wet/muddy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Dearmond Clint RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md?model=05607W4), [All aircraft, 110 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021035/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Dearmond Clint RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=05607W4), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Dearmond Clint RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05607W4), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Dearmond Clint RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05607W4), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis While cruising at 2,900 feet above ground level, the pilot advanced the throttle and heard a "pop" from the engine, which then lost total power before the propeller stopped. The pilot's engine restart was unsuccessful, and he attempted to land at the nearest airport. The airplane landed short of the runway in a muddy field. During the landing, the nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over, resulting in damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed that a 7.5 amp ignition fuse, located in the empennage of the airplane, had failed during the flight, which resulted in the loss of ignition and the inability to restart the engine. ## Factual narrative On May 16, 2010, at 1115 central daylight time, a Dearmond RV-6A single-engine experimental airplane, N1257E, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant and registered owner, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight departed Manitowoc, Wisconsin, at 1020. According to the pilot, while cruising at 2,900 feet above ground level (agl), he advanced the throttle and heard a "pop" from the engine. The engine lost total power and the propeller stopped. The pilot's engine restart was unsuccessful, and he attempted to land at the nearest airport. The airplane landed short of the airport runway in a muddy field. During the landing, the nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over. Examination of the airplane by the pilot and Federal Aviation Administration inspectors revealed the vertical stabilizer and rudder were bent. Detailed examination of the airframe and engine revealed that a 7.5 amp ignition fuse, located in the empennage of the airplane, had failed during the flight, which resulted in the loss of ignition and the inability to restart the engine. The pilot stated that he was unaware of this fuse in the ignition system. The airplane's most recent conditional inspection was completed on June 28, 2009, and the airplane had accumulated 330.8 total hours at the time of the accident. The pilot's medical certificate was expired and his flight review was not current. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1257E](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1257E), registered now, S/N 60369 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DEARMOND CLINT RV-6A - Registry model: [Dearmond Clint RV-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/dearmond-clint-rv-6a) (registry code 05607W4) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 60369 - Airframe hours: 330.8 - Engines: Chevrolet reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Wunsch Donald L - Registered owner: Wunsch Donald L - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 28, 2009 - Departed: MTW, Manitowoc, WI - Destination: MTW, Manitowoc, WI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review May 3, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 270 total, 42 in this make and model, 228 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 70° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20100516005169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100516005169A), May 16, 2010: Dearmond Cl RV-6A, Sheboygan Falls, WI, Substantial damage. Pilot wunsch was cruising northbound at 2900 ft MSL northeast of the ksbm airport. Pilot wunsch reports advancing the throttle, hearing the engine "pop" twice,… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 9, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76028. 383 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 363 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332330&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 20 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332331&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF 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.