# NTSB CHI04CA141: Doerr Raymond R RV-9A, N369RV, Fort Scott, KS, June 6, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 6, 2004, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Fort Scott, KS - Coordinates: 37.79861, -94.769447 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.7986&lon=-94.7694&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 1, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 59480 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04CA141 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59480/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04CA141 ## Probable cause The vapor lock of the airplane fuel system and the ditch encountered during the emergency landing.. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, approach - fuel system - vapor lock (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - Nose over, emergency landing - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - ditch (cause) ## Analysis The experimental amateur-built airplane experienced a loss of engine power during cruise flight when fuel pressure decreased to a level below the normal operating range. The fuel pressure continued to be below normal after the airplane's secondary fuel pump automatically actuated. The pilot then executed a forced landing on a field where the airplane impacted a ditch and nosed over. Inspection of the airplane revealed that the airplane was fueled with automotive fuel. The pilot reported an ambient temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit. A post accident engine run did not duplicate a loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On June 6, 2004, at 1845 central daylight time, a Doerr RV-9A, owned and piloted by a private pilot, impacted terrain and nosed over during a forced landing. The airplane experienced a total loss of engine power during cruise flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed a the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot received minor injuries. The flight departed from Fort Scott Municipal Airport, Fort Scott, Kansas, at 1840 and was en route to Butler Memorial Airport, Butler, Missouri. The pilot stated, "I flew from IDX (New Century) to FSK (Fort Scott) on a 80 degree day with no issues whats so ever [sic]. I landed at FSK (about 35 minute flight), and then taxi'ed [sic] back to the runway. I sat there for around 2 minutes with the engine running while I dialed in my next hop on the GPS. I departed FSK in a climb at 110 - 120mph with the VSI at 1,000 ft/min. Coolant temp on climbout was 218 with oil 5-7 degrees hotter. Once I reached 3,000 ft MSL I backed the MT Prop off to 2100 (engine 3800) and started cruise flight to BUM (Butler, MO). A minute went by when the engine stumbled briefly, than [sic] a few seconds later, all engine power was loss [sic]. At this same time I noticed the Fuel Pressure was 5 - 7 PSI and the AUX pump kicked it [sic], but did not resolve the fuel pressure issue. I switched from the left tank (which had 12 gal remaining) to the right tank (full). I tried the pump switch in AUX, then Main and back again. I switched the Master to Bypass and still nothing. I switched the MP Prop to Manual and fully feathered the prop for best glide of 80mph and headed back to FSK. All of this was done in around 15 seconds. I had FSK in site when I realized I didn't have enough ALT to make the field, now I was 1000 AGL, I spotted a suitable landing area in a field. I landing [sic] in the field fine around 60-65 mph and rolled out into a wheat field. The bad luck was a small ditch between the two fields which the nose wheel got stuck in, even though I had full back elevator. The rest was a complete nose over at around 30 - 40 mph. The last image in my mind was seeing the prop go into the ground and break, my thoughts were, this can't be good. The next image I had was hanging upside down and the smell of fuel. It took a few seconds to figure out what happened, and then I release [sic] my belt and silenced the ELT so I could talk on 121.5. The only one to hear me was a overhead plane which relayed all my messages back to ATC. My next mission was to get out of the trapped cockpit. Thank God the top of the caopy [sic] broke, because I was unable to break the sides to crawl under. I had to start at the top of the canopy which was now against the ground and break off small pieces at a time until I had a hole big enough to crawl through. This is where I got the most cuts on my hands! Once outside I took my headset and was able to talk on 121.5 by pressing the PTT^ on the stick. I had shutoff the fuel valve after the crash (something I should have done earlier), but there was fuel still pouring out. I couldn't figure this out, but after words [sic] it made sense. The engine was against the ground upside down with the Vert Stab up much higher. This made the tanks higher than the vent lines which were spilling out all the remaining fuel. At this point the ambulance came..." Examination of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration revealed that the airplane was powered by a Subaru EJ25 engine, serial number B087372 engine, which was fueled by auto fuel at the time of the accident. The airplane was equipped with two fuel pumps, which were selected to an automatic setting. An engine run following the accident did not duplicate the loss of engine power. The pilot reported an ambient temperature of 80 degrees Fahrenheit. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N369RV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N369RV-2010-03-26), registration cancelled 2010-03-26, S/N 90442, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Doerr Raymond R RV-9A - Registry model: [Doerr Raymond R RV-9A](https://openairdocs.org/model/doerr-raymond-r-rv-9a) (registry code 05617EC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Subaru ALL MDLS A/B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/subaru-all-mdls-a-b) (registry code 59050, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 90442 - Engines: Subaru EJ25 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Raymond R. Doerr - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: FSK, Fort Scott, KS - Destination: BUM, BUTLER, MO - Airport: FSK, Fort Scott Muni ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 74 total, 41 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20040606015579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040606015579A), Jun 6, 2004: Amtr RV9A, Ft Scott, KS, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft departed ft. Scott, KS enroute to bulter, MO. Climped to 3000FT and leveled off. Approx. 1 minute at the cruise altitude the engine lost power.… 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.