# NTSB CHI04LA011: Domeier RV-7A, N707DD, Augusta, MO, October 13, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 13, 2003, 10:28 local (15:28 UTC) - Place: Augusta, MO - Coordinates: 38.572776, -90.881385 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.5728&lon=-90.8814&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-St. Louis, Missouri FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58177 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04LA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58177/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA011 ## Probable cause The failure of the supercharger and alternator drive belts which resulted in foreign object damage to the valve timing system and subsequent loss of engine power, and the unsuitable terrain encountered by the pilot during the forced landing. A factor was the soft terrain where the forced landing was executed. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - electrical system,drive/belt - failure (cause) - engine assembly,timing gear - foreign object damage (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - encountered, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, emergency descent/landing ## Analysis The airplane was substantially damaged when it nosed over during a forced landing following a complete loss of engine power. The pilot reported that the airplane's nose landing gear dug into the soft sandy soil during the forced landing, causing the airplane to nose over. The airplane was powered by a Subaru automobile engine converted for aircraft use. A postaccident examination revealed that the plastic timing-belt cover and the belts for the alternator and supercharger were broken. Pieces of the alternator belt were found within the remaining portion of the timing-belt cover. The engine intake and exhaust valves had struck the top of the cylinders. ## Factual narrative On October 13, 2003, at 1028 central daylight time, an amateur-built RV-7A, N707DD, piloted by an airline transport pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a complete loss of engine power while in cruise flight near Augusta, Missouri. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot, who was the only occupant, received minor injuries. The local flight originated from the Spirit of St. Louis Airport, St. Louis, Missouri, about 1015. The pilot reported that while cruising at 1,000 feet above ground level the airplane's engine suddenly quit. He reported that attempts to restart the engine were unsuccessful and he executed a forced landing to a dirt road between two farm fields. The pilot reported that during the landing the nose landing gear dug into the soft sandy ground and the airplane susequently nosed over. The airplane was powered by a Subaru automobile engine that had been converted for aircraft use. The engine induction system included a belt driven supercharger. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector conducted a postaccident examination of the airplane. The examination revealed that the supercharger drive belt and the alternator drive belt were broken. A hole was found in the plastic timing-belt cover. Pieces of the alternator belt were found within the remaining portion of the timing-belt cover. Further examination revealed that the intake and exhaust valves had struck the piston tops. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N707DD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N707DD), registered now, S/N 70374, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Domeier RV-7A - Registry model: [Domeier David VANS RV-7A](https://openairdocs.org/model/domeier-david-vans-rv-7a) (registry code 056146Z) (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: 70374 - Airframe hours: 89 - Engines: Subaru 2.5 165 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 15, 2003, 89 hours before - Departed: SUS, ST LOUIS, MO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: minor; flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review October 22, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 17,000 total, 90 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: SUS, 12 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 20031013025579A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20031013025579A), Oct 13, 2003: Amtr RV7A, Augusta, MO, Minor damage. (-23) The aircraft departed sus at 10:15 am on a pleasure flight. The aircraft lost engine power at 10:28 am and the pilot made an emergency landing on a road… 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.