# NTSB ERA11LA400: Fessenden Alfred Expermental RV-4, N3226N, Fort Drum, FL, July 4, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 4, 2011, 08:30 local (12:30 UTC) - Place: Fort Drum, FL - Coordinates: 27.541944, -80.833053 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.5419&lon=-80.8331&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 24, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - SAIBs cited in the narratives: [SAIB CE-09-35](https://openairdocs.org/saib/CE-09-35) (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB case key (mKey): 81118 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11LA400 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81118/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81118 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA400 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## 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: [Fessenden Alfred EXPERMENTAL RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05613W7), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Fessenden Alfred EXPERMENTAL RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05613W7), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Fessenden Alfred EXPERMENTAL RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05613W7), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Fessenden Alfred EXPERMENTAL RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05613W7), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Fessenden Alfred EXPERMENTAL RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05613W7), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, during the initial climb, about 30 feet above ground level, the engine experienced a total loss of power. He attempted to land on the remaining runway and avoid a ditch located at the end of the runway. However, the airplane's wing struck the ground, and the airplane came to rest facing the opposite direction of travel. The pilot further reported that he had removed the fuel from the fuel tanks to facilitate recovery. A small area of blight was noted near where the airplane came to rest; however, due to the damage to the engine it could not be conclusively determined if fuel was present. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical malfunctions or abnormalities that would have precluded normal operation. While the airplane was being operated in conditions conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power, it is not likely that the airplane could have lost engine power during the climb at takeoff power. ## Factual narrative On July 4, 2011, about 0830 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built RV-4, N3226N, experienced a loss of engine power after takeoff from the Indian Hammock Airport (FL75), Fort Drum, Florida. The certificated private pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and fuselage. The flight was operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal, local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed. The pilot reported to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, that approximately 30 feet above ground level the engine experienced a total loss of engine power. He had approximately 1,500 feet of runway remaining and he attempted to land the airplane on the remaining runway. He reported that in order to avoid a ditch, located at the end of the runway, he attempted to turn the airplane during the landing rollout, striking the wing on the turf runway. The airplane came to rest facing down the runway, opposite the direction of travel. He further reported that the fuel had been removed from the fuel tanks to facilitate recovery of the airplane. Initial examination by an FAA inspector revealed that the right wing was damaged, the gear had collapsed, and the fuselage was substantially damaged. The fuel tanks were devoid of fuel and due to the damage to the engine the presence of fuel could not be determined. However, it was noted that there was an area of blight approximately 3 square feet, where the airplane came to rest. Examination of the engine revealed that continuity was confirmed throughout the engine and that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The 0835 recorded weather at the Okeechobee County Airport (OBE), Okeechobee, Florida, located approximately 19 miles to the south of the accident location, included wind from 100 degrees at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 25 degrees C, dew point 22 degrees C, and an altimeter of 30.02 inches of mercury. The carburetor icing probability chart from the FAA Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB): CE-09-35 Carburetor Icing Prevention, shows a probability of serious icing at glide power at the temperature and dew point recorded at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3226N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N3226N), registered now, S/N 243 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FESSENDEN ALFRED EXPERMENTAL RV-4 - Registry model: [Fessenden Alfred EXPERMENTAL RV-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/fessenden-alfred-expermental-rv-4) (registry code 05613W7) (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: 243 - Airframe hours: 440 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, March 1, 2011, 6 hours before - Departed: FL75, Fort Drum, FL - Destination: FL75, Fort Drum, FL - Airport: FL75, Indian Hammock Airport, runway 11, 3,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 7, 2011; seat: front; flight hours: 466 total, 372 in this make and model, 466 as pilot in command, 6 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: OBE, 19 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 20110704013459A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110704013459A), Jul 4, 2011: Fessenden Alfred EXPERMENTAL RV-4, Okeechobee, FL, Substantial damage. 07/04/2011 This aircraft was involved in an accident while taking off from runway 11, a 3000' grass strip, located in indian hammock airport, in fort drum,… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 21, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81118. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40362788&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record - FAA Examination (item 2, .PDF, 81 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40362792&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Examination-Master.PDF - Okeechobee Weather (item 3, .PDF, 100 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351256&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Okeechobee%20Weather-Master.PDF - Photo 1: Airplane At Rest (Courtesy of the Insurance Adjuster) (item 4, .PDF, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40362785&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Airplane%20At%20Rest%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20Insurance%20Adjuster)-Master.PDF 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.