# NTSB DEN01LA153: Bradley Rans S-7, N91642, Fruita, CO, August 28, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 28, 2001, 13:40 local (19:40 UTC) - Place: Fruita, CO - Coordinates: 39.222499, -108.731391 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.2225&lon=-108.7314&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report December 6, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 53127 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN01LA153 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53127/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN01LA153 ## Probable cause loss of engine power due to both piston rings failing, and the subsequent inadvertent stall/spin during the attempted forced landing. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - engine assembly,ring - failure (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Loss of control - in flight, descent - uncontrolled - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - object - building(nonresidential) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - open field ## Analysis Shortly after takeoff (approximately 30 feet above the ground), the aircraft began to lose power. The pilot said the aircraft lost the ability to climb at about 60 feet above ground level. Due to a barn in his flight path, he turned the airplane toward an alfalfa field to make an emergency landing. The engine continued to loose power and attempts to regain engine power failed. The airplane's speed began to decrease and approach a stall. The airplane contacted the ground with its right wing first, then rotated until its heading was 180 degrees from its flight path, subsequently coming to rest against a fence. Postaccident examination of the engine by the pilot revealed that both piston rings had failed. The owner reported that the engine had approximately 4 hours of flight operation time. . ## Factual narrative On August 28, 2001, at approximately 1340 mountain daylight time, a Bradley Rans S-7 homebuilt airplane, N91642, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Fruita, Colorado. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant aboard the airplane, was not injured. A private individual was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local test flight that was originating at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff (approximately 30 feet above the ground), the engine began to lose power. He said the airplane lost the ability to climb at about 60 feet above ground level. The pilot said there was a fence and a barn directly in his flight path; he turned the aircraft left toward an alfalfa field to make an emergency landing. The engine continued to lose power and attempts to regain engine power failed. The airplane started to lose airspeed until the onset of a stall. The pilot reduced the airplane's angle of attack so that the airplane would not stall. The airplane contacted the ground with its right wing first, then rotated until its heading was 180 degrees from its flight path, subsequently coming to rest against a fence. The airplane's engine mount, both wings, and the horizontal stabilizer were bent, and the fuselage was wrinkled. Postaccident examination of the two cylinder engine by the pilot revealed that both piston rings had failed. The owner reported that the engine had approximately 4 hours of flight operation time. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N91642](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N91642), registered now, S/N 491080 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bradley Rans S-7 - Registry model: [Bradley Jack E RANS S-7](https://openairdocs.org/model/bradley-jack-e-rans-s-7) (registry code 05611K6) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 491080 - Airframe hours: 4 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Patrick L. Wehling Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 20, 2001, 4 hours before - Departed: NONE, Fruita, CO - Airport: NONE, Private Airport, runway 09, 1,200 × 35 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 3, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 10,000 total, 4 in this make and model, 7,000 as pilot in command, 210 in the last 90 days, 80 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: GJT, 18 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 20010828024229A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010828024229A), Aug 28, 2001: Amtr RANSS7, Fruita, CO, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot took off east bound from Private Airport. At approximately 50 feet AGL pilot noted that the aircraft was no producing full power and that the… 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.