# NTSB DEN00LA157: Phelps Rans S-12 Airaile, N586WP, Buffalo, WY, August 23, 2000

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 23, 2000, 07:15 local (13:15 UTC)
- Place: Buffalo, WY
- Coordinates: 44.339721, -106.709671 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3397&lon=-106.7097&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 2 serious
- Status: Completed, report November 1, 2001
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 50078
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN00LA157
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/50078/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN00LA157

## Probable cause

the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing.  Contributing factors were the power failure due to a failed rod bearing, and down draft weather condition.

## 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
  - engine assembly,bearing - failure,total (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- In flight encounter with weather, emergency descent/landing
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)
- Hard landing, descent - uncontrolled
  - terrain condition - none suitable (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot said that he was flying at approximately 1,000 feet above the ground when the engine lost power.  He selected a landing site for a forced landing, but an unexpected downdraft changed his glide path.  He turned to avoid a house, and landed hard on a road.  The airplane subsequently slid approximately 50 feet into a fence.  Postaccident evaluation of the engine by a mechanic revealed that a rod bearing had failed, and subsequently its associated piston rod bent.

## Factual narrative

On August 23, 2000, at 0715 mountain daylight time, a Phelps Rans S-12 Airaile experimental homebuilt airplane, N586WP, experienced a loss of power and was destroyed during a forced landing near Buffalo, Wyoming.  The private pilot and his passenger were both seriously injured.  The pilot was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight that originated from Johnson County Airport, Buffalo, Wyoming, approximately 15 minutes before the accident.  No flight plan had been filed.

The pilot said that he was flying approximately 1,000 feet above the ground when the engine lost power.  He selected a landing site for a forced landing, but an unexpected downdraft changed his glide path.  He turned to avoid a house, and landed hard on a road.  The airplane subsequently slid approximately 50 feet into a fence.

Postaccident examination of the Rotax 582UL engine by a mechanic revealed that a rod bearing had failed, and subsequently its associated piston rod bent.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N586WP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N586WP-2001-03-28), registration cancelled 2001-03-28, S/N 1191149 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Phelps RANS S-12 AIRAILE (RANS S-12)
- Registry model: [Phelps Wallace N RANS S-12 AIRAILE](https://openairdocs.org/model/phelps-wallace-n-rans-s-12-airaile) (registry code 05624AR) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1191149
- Airframe hours: 180
- Engines: Rotax 582UL 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Destroyed
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Randolph A. Ricard
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, August 19, 2000, 30 hours before
- Departed: BYG

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 46; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 100 total, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 270° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 162 °F, dew point 93 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BYG, 6 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 20000823012109A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000823012109A), Aug 23, 2000: Amtr RANSS12, Buffalo, WY, No damage. (-23) Engine began running rough. Pilot attempted emergency landing to a street which resulted in a hard landing.

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.