# NTSB CEN13LA220: Walker Phil RV-6A, N525PW, Spearfish, SD, April 4, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 4, 2013, 16:40 local (22:40 UTC) - Place: Spearfish, SD - Coordinates: 44.480667, -103.839797 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4807&lon=-103.8398&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report December 11, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86597 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN13LA220 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86597/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86597 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN13LA220 ## Probable cause The coil-distributor wire loosening in flight, which rendered the ignition system inoperative and subsequently caused the loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Ignition system: dist (ignition harness)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057420): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Walker Phil RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057420/cases.md?model=05610VG), [All aircraft, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057420/cases.md) - [Power plant](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Walker Phil RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md?model=05610VG), [All aircraft, 198 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057100/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340); cases with it: [Walker Phil RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md?model=05610VG), [All aircraft, 820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/340/sequence.md) - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Walker Phil RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05610VG), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Walker Phil RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05610VG), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis While climbing through 6,000 feet, the engine suddenly lost power. The pilot stated that, although he subsequently switched on the auxiliary fuel pump and ignition system, the engine did not restart; therefore, he executed a forced landing to a nearby pasture. The nose landing gear collapsed during the landing, and the airplane came to rest inverted. Examination of the automotive engine, which had been adapted for aviation use, found that the coil-distributor wire had loosened and was not connected to the coil. It is likely that the wire came loose during flight, which rendered the automotive ignition system inoperative and caused the engine to lose power. ## Factual narrative On April 4, 2013, about 1640 mountain daylight time, an RV-6A airplane, N525PW, experienced a loss of engine power and conducted a forced landing near Spearfish, South Dakota. The private rated pilot and flight instructor received minor injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that operated without a flight plan. The flight originated from the Black Hills Airport – Clyde Ice Field, Spearfish, South Dakota, about 1630. According to the pilot, he had recently purchased the airplane and was flying the airplane back to his home airfield. After stopping at an en route airport for fuel, they departed, and were climbing through 6,000 feet when the engine suddenly lost power. The pilot added that he switched on the auxiliary fuel pump and ignition system; however, the engine did not restart. He then selected a pasture for the forced landing. During landing, the nose gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest inverted. The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane on site and noted that the airplane’s fuselage and vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage during the accident. The airplane was equipped with an automotive Chevrolet 4.6L engine adapted for aviation use. Further examination of the engine revealed that the carburetor’s air filter was dirty and partly clogged. Additionally, a wire that runs from the coil to the distributor was found disconnected from the coil terminal. The wire and distributor were the automotive type and had the traditional terminal male/female plug arrangement, without an additional locking mechanism. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N525PW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N525PW-2018-03-05), registration cancelled 2018-03-05, S/N 525, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Walker Phil RV-6A - Registry model: [Walker Phil RV6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/walker-phil-rv6a) (registry code 05610VG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 525 - Engines: Chevy 4.6L reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: Spearfish, ND - Destination: Spearfish, ND ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 33; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 8, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 291 total, 1 in this make and model, 272 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days - Flight instructor ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 17 knots, gusting 22 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KSPF ## 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 20130404004939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130404004939A), Apr 4, 2013: Walker Phil RV6A, Spearfish, SD, Substantial damage. Engine lost power shortly after takeoff and aircraft made emergency landing about 3 miles north of the Spearfish, SD airport on 4-4-13. Pilot and passenger… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 31, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86597. 1.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 738 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397163&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 16 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397164&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo: Airplane's engine (FAA photo) (item 3, .PDF, 758 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40397166&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%3A%20%20Airplane%27s%20engine%20%20(FAA%20photo)-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.