# NTSB CHI03LA154: Braunschmidt RV-6A, N160BM, Tea, SD, June 9, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 9, 2003, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Tea, SD - Coordinates: 43.439098, -96.83078 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4391&lon=-96.8308&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA- Rapid City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57200 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA154 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57200/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA154 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the unsuitable terrain for landing encountered. Contributing factors to this accident were the crop and the collapse of the nose landing gear strut. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - crop (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll - landing gear,nose gear strut - collapsed (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane nosed over during a forced landing to a cornfield following a loss of engine power on takeoff. The pilot reported the airplane had climbed to about 50 feet above ground level when the engine lost power. The pilot indicated he subsequently increased the throttle to full and the mixture to full rich. The pilot stated the airplane landed in a cornfield on its main landing gear first, followed by its nose landing gear, and subsequently nosed over. The pilot indicated he was buckled into his seat and was hanging upside down after impact. A post-accident inspection of the airplane revealed no pre-existing anomalies of the airplane's fuel and ignition systems. Engine continuity was confirmed and all cylinders exhibited compression. The propeller did not exhibit leading edge damage or chordwise scratching. There were no indications of propeller slashes or propeller strikes found at the accident site. ## Factual narrative On June 9, 2003, at 1730 central daylight time, an amateur built RV6-A, N160BM, piloted by an airline transport pilot, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over following a forced landing due to loss of engine power, three miles northwest of Tea, South Dakota. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot was uninjured. The flight was departing at the time of the accident. The pilot reported having departed to the north-northeast for a local flight in the traffic pattern. The pilot indicated he lost engine power about 50 feet above the ground while on takeoff climb. The pilot stated he "checked flaps were up, [and] the throttle and mixture were full in." He reported he landed on the main landing gear first, followed by the nose landing gear. The pilot further noted the aircraft flipped over and came to a stop. The pilot indicated he was buckled into his seat and was hanging upside down after impact. The pilot reported a witness to the accident aided him in exiting the aircraft. An inspection of the airplane revealed no pre-existing anomalies of the airplane's fuel and ignition systems. Engine continuity was confirmed and all cylinders exhibited compression. The propeller did not exhibit leading edge damage or chordwise scratching. There were no indications of propeller slashes or propeller strikes found at the accident site. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N160BM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N160BM), registered now, S/N 20832 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Braunschmidt RV-6A - Registry model: [Braunschmidt Robert J RV6-A](https://openairdocs.org/model/braunschmidt-robert-j-rv6-a) (registry code 05610M8) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 20832 - Airframe hours: 100.2 - Engines: Lycoming O320-B2C 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Last inspection: Annual, September 2, 2002 - Departed: PVT, Tea, SD - Airport: PVT, Private Airstrip, runway 03, 2,300 × ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 26; injuries: minor; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 17, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 3,612 total, 73 in this make and model, 2,215 as pilot in command, 95 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 150° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.65 inHg - Observed at: FSD, 7 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20030609010819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030609010819A), Jun 9, 2003: Amtr RV6A, Tea, SD, Substantial damage. (-23) On June 09, 2003, at approximately 1730 cdst, N160BM, an amateur-built RV6A, lost power on takeoff and landed in a corn field approximately 3 miles nw of… 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.