# NTSB ERA20LA039: Rans Rans S7 Courier, N831RS, West Liberty, KY, November 15, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 15, 2019, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: West Liberty, KY - Coordinates: 38.070835, -83.245002 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.0708&lon=-83.2450&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 100591 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20LA039 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100591/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100591 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA039 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to verify that the engine oil tank contained adequate oil for the cross-country flight, which resulted in a total loss of engine power as a result of lack of lubrication. Contributing to the accident was the incorrect oil consumption information listed in the pilot operating handbook. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng oil sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Swenson Ron RANS S7 COURIER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md?model=05616HF), [All aircraft, 130 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng oil sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Not inspected (probable cause); cases with it: [Swenson Ron RANS S7 COURIER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md?model=05616HF), [All aircraft, 130 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md) - [Engine (reciprocating): recip eng oil sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Related records (probable cause); cases with it: [Swenson Ron RANS S7 COURIER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md?model=05616HF), [All aircraft, 130 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01058550/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Swenson Ron RANS S7 COURIER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=05616HF), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Fluids: oil](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid level (probable cause); cases with it: [Swenson Ron RANS S7 COURIER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md?model=05616HF), [All aircraft, 174 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Swenson Ron RANS S7 COURIER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05616HF), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Swenson Ron RANS S7 COURIER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05616HF), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis While en route, about 2 hours into the cross-country flight, the engine lost all power. The pilot primed and restarted it twice; however, the engine would not sustain power. On the third attempt at restarting, the pilot noted that the propeller would not turn over, and he elected to perform a forced landing to a field. During the landing, the airplane struck a fence, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and engine mounts. Examination of the engine revealed that the oil injection tank was empty, and the aft piston exhibited vertical scoring, consistent with lack of lubrication. It is likely that the aft piston seized in flight as a result of a lack of lubrication, which resulted in the total loss of engine power. Leak testing of the oil system revealed no leakage; therefore, it is likely that the pilot departed on the flight without sufficient oil. Although the pilot should have checked the oil before the flight, the pilot operating handbook, which was written by the builder, contained incorrect oil consumption information, which likely contributed to the pilot's misunderstanding of the amount of oil needed for flight. ## Factual narrative On November 15, 2019, about 1430 eastern standard time, an experimental, amateur-built Rans S7 Courier airplane, N831RS, was substantially damaged during a forced landing to a field in West Liberty, Kentucky. The private pilot was not injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the cross-country flight, which originated from Jackson County Airport (I18), Ravenswood, West Virginia around 1220, and was destined for Smyrna Airport (MQY), Smyrna, Tennessee. According to the pilot, while en route to the destination, the engine lost total power "like someone turned off" the magnetos. He primed and restarted the engine, however it only produced power for 3 to 4 seconds before it lost total power for a second time. He repeated the process again, and the engine again lost power. When he attempted to restart the engine for the third time, the propeller would not rotate to initiate the start. The pilot elected to make a forced landing to a nearby field. During the landing, the airplane struck a fence post, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing and engine mounts. An examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the propeller would rotate through 360° of motion when turned by hand. In addition, the oil reservoir was empty. Fuel samples were taken from both wings and no debris was noted in either sample of 100LL fuel. An examination of the two-stroke engine by an NTSB investigator and manufacturer representative revealed that the engine remained attached to the fuselage. The propeller could be rotated through 360° of motion and compression was confirmed on both cylinders. Fuel was noted in both carburetors that was free of debris. The spark plugs were removed, exhibited normal wear, and were not oil soaked. An examination of the oil system revealed that there were no leaks in the system and the oil injection tank was empty. There was no oil pooling in the oil ports in the carburetors. Furthermore, when the exhaust y-pipe was removed from the cylinders, the aft piston exhibited vertical scoring and was not lubricated. The front piston did not have any scoring and was slightly lubricated. The fuselage was examined, and no oil streaking was noted. Oil was added to the oil injection tank and no leaks were noted. According to the flight manual, the oil consumption of the engine was "approximately 0.2 [quarts] per hour at 5800 rpm (1 quart in 5 hours)," which converted to about 6.4 ounces of oil per hour. Furthermore, it stated that the oil tanks held about one gallon of oil and that the "oil tanks should supply enough oil for 20 hours of continuous engine operation." While examining the engine it was noted that there was only one oil tank and it could contain about 2 quarts of oil. No other oil tank that injected into the pistons was noted on the airplane.There were no maintenance entries that mentioned any oil tank maintenance in the logbooks. According to the engine operator's manual, the engine oil injection would be 8.2 cubic inches of oil per hour per outlet, which, with two outlets, converted to about 9 ounces of oil per hour. The preflight checklist stated to check the engine oil, hoses, wires, and cables prior to engine start. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N831RS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N831RS), registered now, S/N 0988031 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Rans RANS S7 COURIER (Undesignat) - Registry model: [Swenson Ron RANS S7 COURIER](https://openairdocs.org/model/swenson-ron-rans-s7-courier) (registry code 05616HF) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 0988031 - Year built: 1991 - Airframe hours: 651 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 15, 2018 - Departed: I18, Ravenswood, WV - Destination: MQY, Smyrna, TN - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 23, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 427 total, 21 in this make and model, 341 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: JKL, 29 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 20191115018549A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20191115018549A), Nov 15, 2019: Swenson Ron RANS S7 COURIER, Lytten, KY, Substantial damage. Approximately 1935Z zid area 6 notified zid omic of aircraft in distress, relaying through guard (unheard by zid). Information relayed as near 9I3 airport and… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 24, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100591. 11.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484706&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot Interview Summary (item 2, .PDF, 136 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484707&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - NTSB Engine Examination Report (item 3, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484708&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Engine%20Examination%20Report-Master.PDF - Engine Maintenance Log Excerpts (item 4, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484709&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Maintenance%20Log%20Excerpts-Master.PDF - Investigative Photographs (item 5, .PDF, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484710&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigative%20Photographs-Master.PDF - Airplane Flight Manual (item 6, .PDF, 311 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484711&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Flight%20Manual-Master.PDF - Airplane Checklists (item 7, .PDF, 88 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484712&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Airplane%20Checklists-Master.PDF - Rotax 582 Operations Manual Excerpt - Oil Information (item 8, .PDF, 298 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484713&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Rotax%20582%20Operations%20Manual%20Excerpt%20-%20Oil%20Information-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.