- Date
- August 25, 2013, 15:22 local (19:22 UTC)
- Place
- Cortland, NY
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Approach
- Aircraft
- N411AKMark C Pauls RV-7A
- Defining event
- Approach-VFR go-around: Loss of engine power (partial)
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 19, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FSDO/FAA
- FAA report
- 20130825016839A
- Case key
- 87860
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
A partial loss of engine power during go-around due to incorrect maintenance of the fuel system by the pilot/builder.
Findings · 2
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot was also the owner/builder of the amateur-built experimental airplane. He had removed and reinstalled the engine after the airplane experienced a propeller strike. The accident flight was the first flight after the engine was reinstalled. According to the pilot, he performed high-speed taxi runs, followed by a normal takeoff. After takeoff, the pilot climbed to altitude and confirmed the flight controls were functioning properly. He then entered the airport traffic pattern and on his first attempt to land, he performed a go-around. On his second attempt to land, the pilot reported that everything seemed normal, but he was fast on the approach and decided to add power for another go-around. The engine didn’t respond, so he proceeded straight ahead and secured the engine. The airplane landed past the departure end of the runway in a grassy area. The nose wheel dug into the ground and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Postaccident examination by Federal Aviation Administration Inspectors revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and the castle nut that attached the throttle arm to the fuel servo was missing a cotter pin.
Factual narrative
The pilot was also the owner/builder of the amateur-built experimental airplane. He had removed and reinstalled the engine after the airplane experienced a propeller strike. The accident flight was the first flight after the engine was reinstalled. According to the pilot, he performed high-speed taxi runs, followed by a normal takeoff. After takeoff, the pilot climbed to altitude and confirmed the flight controls were functioning properly. He then entered the airport traffic pattern and on his first attempt to land, he performed a go-around. On his second attempt to land, the pilot reported that everything seemed normal, but he was fast on the approach and decided to add power for another go-around. The engine didn’t respond, so he proceeded straight ahead and secured the engine. The airplane landed past the departure end of the runway in a grassy area. The nose wheel dug into the ground and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Postaccident examination by Federal Aviation Administration Inspectors revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and the castle nut that attached the throttle arm to the fuel servo was missing a cotter pin.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N411AK
- Reported as
- Mark C Pauls RV-7A
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 71945
- Airframe hours
- 83
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Mark C Pauls
- Registered owner
- Mark C Pauls
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · July 6, 2013 · 0 hours before
- Departed
- N03 · Cortland, NY
- Destination
- N03 · Cortland, NY
- Airport
- N03 · Cortland County Arpt, runway 24, 3,400 × 75 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Private, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 15, 2013
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 2,115 total · 83 in this make and model · 5 in the last 90 days · 5 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 79 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.31 inHg
- Observed at
- ITH, 12 nm away
Docket · 6
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 4, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.1 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.