# NTSB CEN23LA338: Rans S-6ES, N123TG, Ozark, AR, July 29, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 29, 2023, 18:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Ozark, AR - Coordinates: 35.369317, -93.837472 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.3693&lon=-93.8375&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 192753 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA338 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192753/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192753 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA338 ## Probable cause Oil starvation of the propeller speed reduction unit which resulted in a total loss of engine power. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng oil sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Gutmann Thomas D TOMMYS TOY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md?model=056189F), [All aircraft, 130 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/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 (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Gutmann Thomas D TOMMYS TOY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056189F), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that on his second flight in the airplane, he completed some basic maneuvers without incident and returned to the airport. Shortly after, he and a passenger boarded for a local flight. The pilot completed an engine run up with no anomalies noted, and then departed from the grass runway. About 70 ft above ground level he felt a vibration and was unable to maintain altitude. The engine RPM and oil pressure decreased as the airspeed slowed. The airplane collided with trees and then impacted the ground. The pilot and passenger egressed without incident, then the airplane burst into flames. The passenger recorded a video of the entire accident flight. The video revealed that during the initial climb, the engine RPM and sound appeared to gradually decrease. The airplane did not continue to climb, and the engine RPM continued to decrease. The airplane collided with a tree and then impacted the ground. A postaccident photo from the pilot showed the airplane was mostly consumed by the fire. The pilot provided a summary of his postaccident engine examination, which revealed that the oil supply line to the propeller speed reduction unit was completely clogged with an unknown gray material. Also, the gear reduction drive was seized, lacked oil, and the bearings were covered in a dry, rusty powder. It is likely that the loss of engine power was due to oil starvation of the propeller speed reduction unit. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N123TG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N123TG-2024-08-27), registration cancelled 2024-08-27, S/N 0291162, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: RANS S-6ES - Registry model: [Gutmann Thomas D TOMMYS TOY](https://openairdocs.org/model/gutmann-thomas-d-tommys-toy) (registry code 056189F) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0291162 - Year built: 1991 - Airframe hours: 1386 - Engines: RAM Performance Subaru E81 110 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 25, 2023 - Airport: 2AR1, Etna Airport, runway 9, 2,130 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed; last flight review May 5, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 142 total, 1 in this make and model, 38 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 99 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KFSM, 26 nm away - METAR: KFSM 292253Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 37/22 A3001 RMK AO2 SLP156 T03670217 ## 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 20230729012869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230729012869A), Jul 29, 2023: Gutmann Thomas D TOMMYS TOY, Etna, AR, Destroyed. On 07/29/2023, [privacy data omitted], an experimental amateur built airplane, departed Etna airport (2AR1) approximatly 1800 central time. Video indicates… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 28, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192753. 3.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15927954&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20-%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 8 pages, 430 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15973177&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20exam%20email_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15927837&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf - Video summary -- passenger (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 75 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16103429&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ROC%20--%20Layton%20Davis_02Aug2023-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.