# NTSB CEN24LA317: Vans RV8, N184DC, Guthrie, OK, August 15, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: August 14, 2024, 20:21 local (Aug 15, 2024, 01:21 UTC) - Place: Guthrie, OK - Coordinates: 35.879462, -97.42425 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.8795&lon=-97.4243&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA, Superior Air Parts - NTSB case key (mKey): 194935 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA317 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194935/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194935 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA317 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to the separation and ingestion of an air filter retaining bracket into the engine cylinder. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng cyl section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Chapman Gregory C RV-8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md?model=056349U), [All aircraft, 373 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058530/cases.md) - [Aircraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000): Aircraft › Aircraft structures · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Chapman Gregory C RV-8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000/cases.md?model=056349U), [All aircraft, 72 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01030000/cases.md) - [Maintenance: fabrication](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062025): Personnel issues › Task performance · Owner/builder (probable cause); cases with it: [Chapman Gregory C RV-8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062025/cases.md?model=056349U), [All aircraft, 30 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02062025/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: [Chapman Gregory C RV-8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=056349U), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120); cases with it: [Chapman Gregory C RV-8A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=056349U), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that about 40 ft above ground level (agl) during the initial climb from the grass airstrip, engine cylinder Nos. 2 and 3 lost power. About 10 seconds later, engine cylinder Nos. 1 and 4 lost power. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude. He switched fuel tanks in an attempt to regain engine power but noted no change in the engine performance. The airplane impacted trees beyond the departure end of the runway and sustained substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, and empennage. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed an air filter retaining bracket that was fastened to a fiberglass air snorkel/box had separated and was ingested into the No. 2 cylinder. The separated bracket then jammed the intake valve into the open position, resulting in a loss of engine power. Elongation was noted on the fiberglass where the rivets secured the fabricated retaining bracket. ## Factual narrative On August 14, 2024, about 2021 central daylight time, a Vans RV-8A airplane, N184DC, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Guthrie, Oklahoma. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, about 40 ft agl during the initial climb from the grass airstrip, engine cylinder Nos. 2 and 3 lost power. About 10 seconds later, engine cylinder Nos. 1 and 4 lost power. The pilot was unable to maintain altitude. He switched fuel tanks in an attempt to regain engine power but noted no change in the engine performance. The airplane impacted trees beyond the departure end of the runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, fuselage, and empennage. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no compression was noted on the No. 2 cylinder. The air filter was removed from the fiberglass air snorkel/box, and one of the four fabricated retaining brackets was separated and missing (see Figure 1). Elongation was noted on the fiberglass where the rivets secured the fabricated retaining bracket. Figure 1. Air filter retaining brackets; one bracket separated and missing. The No. 2 cylinder intake tube was removed, and a foreign metal piece, consistent with the separated retaining bracket, was observed within the cylinder. The bracket was jammed in the cylinder and under the intake valve seat. The intake valve and retaining bracket were removed from the cylinder and photo documented (see Figures 2 and 3). Figure 2. No 2. cylinder intake and separated retaining bracket. Figure 3. Separated air filter retaining bracket located in the No. 2 cylinder intake. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N184DC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N184DC), registered now, S/N 80744, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VANS RV8 (A) - Registry model: [Chapman Gregory C RV-8A](https://openairdocs.org/model/chapman-gregory-c-rv-8a) (registry code 056349U) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Superior XP-IO360B1DA3](https://openairdocs.org/engine/superior-xp-io360b1da3) (registry code 59257, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 80744 - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 592.7 - Engines: Superior XP-IO-360-B1AD3 185 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 15, 2023 - Destination: 2OK2, Newalla, OK - Airport: 0OK6, Ellis/Harvey, runway 18, 2,400 × 90 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Data recorder, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 19, 2024; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,666 total, 598 in this make and model, 1,666 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Night - Wind: 160° at 11 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KGOK, 2 nm away - METAR: KGOK 150053Z AUTO 16011G17KT 10SM 33/22 A2987 RMK AO2 SLP101 T03330222 $ ## 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 20240814009959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240814009959A), Aug 14, 2024: Chapman Gregory C RV-8A, Guthrie, OK, Substantial damage. -Aircraft lost engine power on takeoff roll in one cylinder, then went off the rwy and crashed into the trees. --VFR flying conditions ---Weather not a factor… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 1, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194935. 5.7 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17960830&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Engine examination summary (item 2, PDF, 10 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17960922&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20Examination%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Dynon flight data (item 3, XLSX, 155 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17960840&FileExtension=xlsx&FileName=Accident%20Flight%20Data%202-Rel.xlsx - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation - superior air parts (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17961278&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Statement%20Signed_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photograph (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 407 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17968223&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.