# NTSB DEN05LA017: Miller Vans RV4, N25HM, Dotsero, CO, October 31, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 31, 2004, 15:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Dotsero, CO - Coordinates: 39.656387, -107.154724 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6564&lon=-107.1547&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report March 30, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 60484 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN05LA017 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60484/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05LA017 ## Probable cause the pilot's improper in-flight planning and decision making and the loss of engine power due to carburetor ice. Contributing factors include the weather conditions conducive for carburetor icing and 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(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - fuel system,carburetor - ice (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he did not file a flight plan for the flight stating that he wanted to "retain flexibility of refuel locations, based on observed weather patterns while en route." He stated that the en route weather conditions were known to be "VNR [visual flight rules not recommended] due to mountain obscuration and icing in clouds." The pilot stated that he opted for a "VFR over the top flight," while receiving en route weather updates. The departure was uneventful. At approximately 45 minutes in to the flight, the engine "failed." The pilot stated "no icing conditions were encountered." He "declared [an] emergency," and began to "search for holes," as the airplane descended into instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) conditions. The airplane "broke out" of IMC, into poor visibility conditions, at approximately 1500 to 2000 feet agl. The pilot attempted to restart the engine, but the "propeller seized" while he was on a base turn for an attempted forced landing to a road. The airplane struck the top of several aspen trees, impacted the ground in a level attitude and nosed over. A post-impact fire destroyed the airplane. The local recorded weather conditions, temperature, minus 1 degree C; dew point, minus 2 degrees C, were conducive for "serious carburetor icing affects at glide and cruise power settings." During an examination, engine continuity was confirmed and no anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal engine operation. ## Factual narrative On October 31, 2004, at approximately 1545 mountain standard time, a Miller Vans RV4 homebuilt airplane, N25HM, piloted by a commercial pilot, was destroyed when it impacted mountainous terrain following a loss of engine power near Dotsero, Colorado. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal cross-country flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and passenger received serious injuries. The flight originated at Vernal, Utah, at approximately 1500. According to the pilot, the flight began at Morgan, Utah, at approximately 1330, with a destination of Colorado Springs, Colorado. The pilot did not file a flight plan for the flight and stated that he wanted to "retain flexibility of refuel locations, based on observed weather patterns while en route." He made a fuel stop at Vernal, Utah, and the departure from Vernal was uneventful. He stated that the weather conditions between Morgan and Colorado Springs were known to be "VNR [visual flight rules not recommended] due to mountain obscuration and icing in clouds." The pilot stated that he opted for a "VFR over the top flight," while receiving en route weather updates. At approximately 45 minutes in to the second leg of the flight, the engine "failed." The pilot stated "no icing conditions were encountered." The pilot stated that he "declared [an] emergency," and began to "search for holes," as the airplane descended into Instrument meteorological conditions (IMC). The airplane "broke out of IMC, into poor visibility conditions," at approximately 1500 to 2000 feet agl. The pilot stated that he attempted to restart the engine throughout the descent, but the "propeller seized" while he was on a base turn for an attempted forced landing to a fire road. The airplane struck the top of several aspen trees, impacted the ground in a level attitude and nosed over. A post impact fire destroyed the airplane. At 1535, the recorded weather conditions at Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE), Eagle Colorado, (approximately 24 nautical miles at 090 degrees) was, wind, 000 degrees at 0 knots; visibility, 7 statute miles; sky condition, scattered at 100 feet, overcast at 1,600 feet; temperature, minus 1 degree C; dew point, minus 2 degrees C; altimeter setting, 29.88. The calculated density altitude was 6,211 feet msl. According to the recorded data, the local weather conditions were conducive for "serious carburetor icing affects at glide and cruise power settings." Both propeller blades showed leading edge chordwise scratches. During an examination, engine continuity was confirmed and no anomalies were noted that would have precluded normal engine operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N25HM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N25HM-2013-06-27), registration cancelled 2013-06-27, S/N 1809, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Miller Vans RV4 - Registry model: [Miller Homer RV4](https://openairdocs.org/model/miller-homer-rv4) (registry code 0560420) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1809 - Airframe hours: 505 - Engines: Lycoming O-320E2D 150 hp reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ryan Dahlin - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2004, 150 hours before - Departed: VEL, Vernal, UT - Destination: COS, Colorado Spring, CO ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 30; injuries: serious; private, recreational; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 5, 2004; seat: front; flight hours: 1,281 total, 176 in this make and model, 720 as pilot in command, 115 in the last 90 days, 31 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5 ft broken - Temperature: 30 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KEGE, 24 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 20041031028859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041031028859A), Oct 31, 2004: Amtr RV4, Eagle, CO, Destroyed. (-23) According to the pilot in command, he was VFR on top when he began to have engine problems. He declared an emergency with denver center and descended… 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.