CHI01LA239

NTSB accident investigation · Anderson Revelation · Wautoma, WI · July 21, 2001

Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
July 21, 2001, 17:00 local (22:00 UTC)
Place
Wautoma, WI
Injuries
1 minor
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Other
Aircraft
N6116SAnderson Revelation
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 1, 2003
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Federal Aviation Administration - Milwaukee FSDO
FAA report
20010721018999A
Case key
52904

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, resulting in a stall. An inadequate pitch setting of the propeller is a contributing factor.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Miscellaneous/otherOther
Propeller system/accessories,pitch change mech - improperFactor
Loss of control - in flightTakeoff - initial climb
Airspeed - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Stall - inadvertentPilot in commandFactor
Climb - not possibleFactor
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled

Analysis

Prior to the accident flight, which was the experimental homebuilt airplane's second flight since certification, the propeller was adjusted to a finer setting to achieve the desired static engine rpm. The pilot stated that after the takeoff during the accident flight, the airplane did not accelerate normally when out of ground effect and would not climb above approximately 30 feet. The pilot reported that there was not enough runway remaining to land and he started a shallow right turn to keep over the airport area. The pilot reported, "While maintaining 60 mph IAS [indicated airspeed] in a shallow bank, the wing stalled & I was unable to recover before impact with a corn field. The plane hit the ground with right wing about 30 [degrees] low and 20-30 [degrees] nose low." No anomalies were found with the airframe or its engine that could be associated with any pre-impact condition.

Factual narrative

On July 21, 2001, at 1700 central daylight time, an amateur-built Anderson Revelation, N6116S, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage during an in-flight collision with the terrain following a loss of control during initial climb from runway 08 (2,280 feet by 175 feet, dry/turf) at the Wautoma Municipal Airport, Wautoma, Wisconsin. Visual metrological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The test flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 and was not on a flight plan. The pilot, the sole occupant, reported minor injuries. The local flight was departing at the time of the accident.

According to the pilot, the airplane was recently certified as an amateur-built aircraft and was departing on its second flight since certification. The pilot reported that during the first flight the engine tachometer was reading 1,000 rpm lower than the specified range. The pilot stated that subsequent to the first flight the propeller blade pitch was adjusted to a finer setting to achieve the desired static engine rpm.

According to the pilot, on the second flight, the airplane did not accelerate normally when out of ground effect and would not climb above approximately 30 feet. The pilot reported that there was not enough runway remaining to land and he started a shallow right turn to keep over the airport area. The pilot reported, "While maintaining 60 mph IAS [indicated airspeed] in a shallow bank, the wing stalled & I was unable to recover before impact with a corn field. The plane hit the ground with right wing about 30 [degrees] low and 20-30 [degrees] nose low."

No anomalies were found with the airframe or its engine that could be associated with any pre-impact condition.

Aircraft

Registration
N6116S
Reported as
Anderson Revelation
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
RE00/0001
Airframe hours
0
Engine
Rotax 618, 75 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Flight test · Part 91
Registered owner
Peter J. Anderson
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Condition · July 1, 2001 · 0 hours before
Departed
Y50 · Wautoma, WI
Destination
Y50 · Wautoma, WI
Airport
Y50 · Wautoma Municipal Airport, runway 08, 2,280 × 175 ft, grass/turf

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
47
Injuries
Minor
Certificates
Commercial, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
January 27, 2000
Seat
Left
Flight hours
4,500 total · 35 in this make and model · 4,500 as pilot in command · 250 in the last 90 days · 90 in the last 30 days · 5 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
120° at 6 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
88 °F, dew point 75 °F
Altimeter
29.85 inHg
Observed at
OSH, 32 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.