# NTSB ERA20LA316: Vans RV6, N196DJ, Melbourne, FL, September 11, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 11, 2020, 09:30 local (13:30 UTC) - Place: Melbourne, FL - Location: 28.0836° N, 80.6081° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Melbourne, FL, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - NTSB coordinates: 28, -80 (estimated), outside the stated state - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0836&lon=-80.6081&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101958 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20LA316 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101958/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101958 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20LA316 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## 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: [Jacobs Donald RV6-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05603E0), [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. - [Maneuvering: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Jacobs Donald RV6-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05603E0), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Jacobs Donald RV6-A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05603E0), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot/owner had recently purchased the experimental amateur-built airplane following a nearly decade long period of disuse. After spending several weeks inspecting the airplane and addressing minor maintenance issues, he flew the airplane for about 6 hours and noted no issues with the engine. Several days before the accident he changed the engine oil and removed about 1/2 teaspoon of carbon deposits and “sludge” from the oil screen. On the day of the accident, the pilot flew the airplane offshore and was performing maneuvers when the engine suddenly lost all power and the propeller stopped rotating. The pilot then performed a forced landing to a beach during which the and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that there was substantial oil streaking along the underside of the fuselage and that the propeller was not free to rotate without the application of additional leverage. Additionally, while the quantity of engine oil that remained was insufficient to sustain engine operation, the oil drained from the engine was absent of ferrous metal or other contaminates. Disassembly of the engine revealed that the oil pressure relief valve spring was corroded, pitted, and broken. Additionally, while internal engine components displayed signatures consistent with inadequate lubrication, no failures or damage that would have resulted in sudden engine stoppage were observed. ## Factual narrative On September 10, 2020, at 0915 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Vans RV6, N196DJ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Melbourne, Florida. The pilot and passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. The pilot/owner had recently purchased the airplane and reported that it had previously been in long-term storage for about 9 to 10 years without being “pickled or preserved.” The pilot spent several weeks preceding the accident getting the airplane to an airworthy state and addressing minor maintenance issues. This included partially removing the No. 2 cylinder and conducting a borescope inspection of the camshaft and other engine internal components. The visual inspection revealed no corrosion, and the cylinder was reassembled per the engine manufacturer’s specifications. A total of 6 hours were subsequently flown on the engine without issue and as a precautionary measure, an oil change was performed several days prior to the accident. The suction screen was removed and inspected and about 1/2 teaspoon of carbon deposits and sludge was removed. On the day of the accident, the pilot met with a friend and departed on a local flight to practice traffic pattern maneuvers. After the pattern maneuvers, the pilot departed the area and proceeded to an offshore practice area to continue flight maneuvers. Suddenly, the engine started running “very rough” and the pilot increased the mixture. The engine shuddered and came to a “hard stop,” and the propeller was not windmilling. The pilot attempted an engine restart and was able to get about one full propeller rotation before the engine “locked up.” The pilot made a forced landing on a beach and the airplane came to rest inverted, damaging the vertical stabilizer. Following the accident, a visual inspection of the engine after the accident by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no defects. One quart of residual oil was drained from the engine to check for ferrous metal and no anomalies were noted within the oil, strainer, or filter. The spark plugs were removed, and a breaker bar had to be used to rotate the propeller. Valvetrain continuity was established within the engine. A review of accident photographs revealed that oil was streaked on the underside of the airplane. Due to the scope of the examination, the source of the loss of engine oil could not be determined. The pilot subsequently fully disassembled the experimental engine. During the examination of the internal components, it was discovered that the oil pressure relief spring was corroded, pitted, and broken. The spring was loose within the housing. Overheating and scoring was also observed on the crankshaft journals. A review of the aircraft maintenance logbooks revealed that the engine was last overhauled in 1994, and about 1,490 hours before the accident. According to Lycoming serviceinstruction No. 1009BE, all engine models are to be overhauled within 12 calendar years of the date they first entered service or of last overhaul. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N196DJ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N196DJ), registered now, S/N 21982 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Vans RV6 (A) - Registry model: [Jacobs Donald RV6-A](https://openairdocs.org/model/jacobs-donald-rv6-a) (registry code 05603E0) (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: 21982 - Year built: 1995 - Airframe hours: 1490.8 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 SERIES 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: 100 hour, August 19, 2020, 8 hours before - Departed: X59, Valkaria, FL - Destination: X59, Valkaria, FL - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: minor; private, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 5, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,353 total, 8 in this make and model, 1,253 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 5° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,900 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 77 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: X26, 9 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 20200911016199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200911016199A), Sep 11, 2020: Jacobs Donald RV6-A, Melbourne Beach, FL, Substantial damage. On March 9, 2020, about 0914 eastern standard time, a vans aircraft RV-6A, N196DJ, sustained substantial damage after an uncommanded engine shoutdown forced a… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 13, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101958. 150 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 6.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11426860&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N196DJ%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record FAA examiantion (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 110 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11427526&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20FAA%20examination%20summary%20%20N196DJ-Rel.pdf - Memorandum of record pilot/owner engine examination (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12215491&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20Of%20Record%20Pilot%20_owner%20engine%20examination%20LA316-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 4, PDF, 4 pages, 143 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11428148&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Logbook%20excerpts%20LA316_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 4 pages, 911 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12215501&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20N916DJ-Rel.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.