# NTSB CEN23LA152: Vans RV6, N48PS, Goldsby, OK, April 8, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 8, 2023, 18:30 local (23:30 UTC) - Place: Goldsby, OK - Coordinates: 35.155068, -97.470394 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1551&lon=-97.4704&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 107044 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA152 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/107044/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107044 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA152 ## Probable cause The engine electronic ignition system became disconnected, which resulted in a partial loss of engine power. ## 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 · Malfunction (probable cause); cases with it: [Peter M Spradling VANS RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057497/cases.md?model=05634WI), [All aircraft, 16 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057497/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Peter M Spradling VANS RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05634WI), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092); cases with it: [Peter M Spradling VANS RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05634WI), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Peter M Spradling VANS RV-6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05634WI), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff, the pilot experienced a partial loss of engine power and turned back to the airport to land. During the “tight” left traffic pattern, the left wing contacted the runway and the pilot lost control of the airplane, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing, fuselage, and vertical stabilizer. Postaccident examination of the engine found the No. 1 electronic ignition lead was loose and detached from the ignition coil. Additionally, the ignition coil package mount bolt was loose, which would have allowed the grouping to vibrate during engine operation. ## Factual narrative On April 8, 2023, about 1830 central standard time, an amateur-built Vans RV-6A airplane, N48PS, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Goldsby, Oklahoma. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The local flight departed runway 13 at the David Jay Perry Airport, Goldsby, Oklahoma. The pilot stated that, about 8-10 seconds after he rotated the airplane, the engine made loud popping/banging sounds and he experienced a reduction in engine power. He maneuvered the airplane to land on runway 13 in a “tight” left traffic pattern. During the landing, the left wing contacted the runway and the airplane landed hard. The pilot lost control of the airplane as it departed the runway and rolled inverted. Substantial damage was sustained to the left wing, fuselage, and to the horizontal and vertical stabilizers. Postaccident examination of the engine found that it was equipped with a Champion Slick impulse magneto that sparked the lower bank of aviation spark plugs and an electronic ignition system that sparked the upper bank of automotive spark plugs. The No. 1 electronic ignition lead was loose and detached from the ignition coil. Additionally, the ignition coil package mount bolt was loose, which would have allowed the grouping to vibrate during engine operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N48PS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N48PS-2024-03-01), registration cancelled 2024-03-01, S/N 25349, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VANS RV6 (A) - Registry model: [Peter M Spradling VANS RV-6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/peter-m-spradling-vans-rv-6a) (registry code 05634WI) (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: 25349 - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 219 - Engines: Superior XP-360-B1C2 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 17, 2022, 8 hours before - Airport: 1K4, David Jay Perry, runway 13, 3,004 × 60 ft, concrete - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 29, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 512.4 total, 40 in this make and model, 364.4 as pilot in command, 0.3 in the last 90 days, 0.3 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KOUN - METAR: A 08/04/2023 23:49-> METAR KOUN 082349Z 14008KT 10SM CLR 22/M03 A3007= ## 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 20230408003619A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230408003619A), Apr 8, 2023: Peter M Spradling VANS RV-6A, Goldsby, OK, Substantial damage. The pilot departed from David Jay Perry Airport (1K4) Goldsby, Oklahoma and approximately 10 seconds after becoming airborne, the aircraft engine began to… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 28, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107044. 7.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 6.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16661832&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 4 photos, 864 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16661432&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%204%20CEN23LA152-Rel.pdf - Inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 167 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16661564&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Inspector-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 407 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16661978&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Untitled%2012_Redacted-Rel.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.