# NTSB DEN87LA104: Devore Sunbird 100, N100VL, Albuquerque, NM, April 18, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: April 18, 1987, 08:00 local (14:00 UTC)
- Place: Albuquerque, NM
- Coordinates: 35.110561, -106.579917 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1106&lon=-106.5799&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 8, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 17207
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN87LA104
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/17207/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN87LA104

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - initial climb
  - aircraft performance,climb capability - inadequate (cause)
  - performance data - inadequate, manufacturer (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,design change - not understood, pilot in command (cause)
- Nose over, landing - roll
  - landing gear,nose gear - overload (contributing factor)

## Analysis

AN EXPERIMENTAL DESIGNED PROTOTYPE ACFT WAS BEING FLOWN ON ITS FIRST FLT. THE ACFT TOOK OFF AND FLEW IN GROUND EFFECT BEYOND THE ARPT BOUNDARY. AT FULL PWR, THE ACFT COULD NOT MAINTAIN ALTITUDE AND DESCENDED UNCONTROLLED TO AN IMPACT WITH THE TERRAIN. THE NOSE GEAR COLLAPSED AND THE ACFT NOSED OVER. ORIGINAL DESIGN OF THE ACFT WAS 950 LBS GW WITH A 60 HP ENG. AS THIS PROTOTYPE WAS EQUIPPED ITS CLIMB RATE WAS A MINUS 75 FT/MIN. IN A POST FLT TEST THE INVOLVED ENG PRODUCED LESS THAN 40 HP. THE ACC PLT STEPPED INTO THE PROGRAM 10 DAYS BEFORE THE ACC AFTER THE ORIGINAL CONTRACTED TEST PLT QUIT. THE TEST WAS FLOWN IN SPITE OF SOME OF THE TECHNICIANS SKEPTICISM OF SUCCESS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N100VL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N100VL-2017-03-24), registration cancelled 2017-03-24, S/N 001, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DEVORE SUNBIRD 100
- Registry model: [Verilite V-100](https://openairdocs.org/model/verilite-v-100) (registry code 05612BB) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 001
- Engines: EMDAIR 2 CYCLE 45 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Business, Part 91
- Registered owner: Verilite Aircraft Co. Inc.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: ABQ, ALBUQUERQUE, NM
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 2,888 total, 2,700 as pilot in command, 38 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 80 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: ABQ, 2 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 19870418010099A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870418010099A), Apr 18, 1987: Amtrvr V100, Albuquerque, NM, Substantial damage. The prototype aircraft failed to climb after takeoff. Impacted ground. Calculated climb performance negative to fpm

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.

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