# NTSB DEN08LA090: DeHavilland DH112 Venom, N21MJ, Hudson, CO, May 17, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 17, 2008, 11:55 local (17:55 UTC) - Place: Hudson, CO - Coordinates: 40.117221, -104.684722 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.1172&lon=-104.6847&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 68033 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN08LA090 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68033/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN08LA090 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for reasons undetermined. Contributing to the damage of the airplane were the three ditches and the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland DH112 VENOM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=2800422), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland DH112 VENOM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md?model=2800422), [All aircraft, 267 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Dehavilland DH112 VENOM, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=2800422), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Dehavilland DH112 VENOM, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2800422), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he was performing a fly-over with another airplane when the engine lost power. The pilot was able to restart the engine; however, it lost power shortly thereafter. The pilot performed a forced landing to the west in an open alfalfa field. The airplane impacted several ditches resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. A postimpact fire ensued, destroying the airplane. Due to the fire damage to the engine, the reason for power loss could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On May 17, 2008, at 1155 mountain daylight time, a DeHavilland DH112 Venom, N21MJ, operated by an airline transport pilot, was destroyed when it impacted an irrigation ditch during a forced landing 1.5 miles northwest of the Platte Valley Airpark (18V), Hudson, Colorado. A postimpact fire ensued. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight was being operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot was not injured. The round-robin flight departed Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport (BJC), Denver, Colorado, approximately 1130. According to the pilot, he was performing a fly-over with another airplane at the Platte Valley Airpark Fly-In. The pilot stated that as he pitched up to climb the engine lost power. The pilot was able to restart the engine; however, it lost power "about five seconds" later. The pilot performed a forced landing to the west in an open alfalfa field. The airplane traveled over two irrigation ditches, and impacted a third ditch. The right main landing gear collapsed. The airplane came to rest 2,630 feet west of the initial landing point. The belly of the fuselage and cabin area was torn and fragmented. Both main landing gear crushed up into the wing, the right auxiliary fuel tank separated partially, and both wing spars were bent. The post impact fire consumed a large portion of the fuselage, engine, and cabin area. The wreckage was recovered and relocated to a hangar in Greeley, Colorado. Examination of the engine revealed that the accessory housing, compressor, housing, and several burner cans were charred, melted, and partially consumed by fire. The driveshaft, turbine, and aft portion of the housing were continuous and unremarkable. The engine accessories, to include both fuel pumps, were charred, melted, and partially consumed by fire. Due to the fire damage, engine continuity or engine accessory functionality could not be confirmed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N21MJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N21MJ), registered now, S/N 737 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DeHavilland DH112 Venom - Registry model: [Dehavilland DH112 VENOM](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dh112-venom) (registry code 2800422) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1527 - Airframe hours: 1962 - Engines: Rolls-Royce ghost 48 mk 1 4850 lbs thrust turbo jet - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Air race/show, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2007 - Departed: BJC, Englewood, CO - Destination: BJC, Englewood, CO - Airport: 18V, Platte Valley Airpark ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2007; seat: single; flight hours: 3,907 total, 400 in this make and model, 3,690 as pilot in command, 16 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 8 knots, gusting 17 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.28 inHg - Observed at: DEN, 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 20080517848059A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080517848059A), May 17, 2008: Dhav DH112VENOM, Hudson, CO, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot reported he made a pass from west to east at Platte valley airport. On climb-out, the engine flamed out. The pilot was able to restart the engine,… 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.