# NTSB ERA25LA056: Finn Lassen RV-4, N214FL, O'Brien, FL, November 9, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 9, 2024, 11:02 local (16:02 UTC) - Place: O'Brien, FL · Coordinates from the pilot - Coordinates: 30.049035, -82.90374 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.0490&lon=-82.9037&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute: 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 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 195534 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA056 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195534/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195534 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA056 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power and navigational equipment as a result of a faulty battery. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Ignition system: ignition power supply](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057410): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Malfunction; cases with it: [Finn Lassen RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057410/cases.md?model=05639MX), [All aircraft, 13 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057410/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Finn Lassen RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05639MX), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Finn Lassen RV-4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05639MX), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that approximately 7 miles from his destination airport, he reduced the engine power to descend when, “suddenly everything went dark” and the engine lost all power. The automotive automotive-style powerplant ignition system is was dependent upon the airplane’s battery system. Unable to restart the engine, the pilot attempted a forced landing in a field. The pilot was unable to operate the electrically electrically-driven flaps, and as a result, he over flew a series of hay fields before touching down in a third field. The airplane approached a barbed wire fence at the end of the field, so the pilot attempted to steer away from it, . however, theThe right wing and main landing gear dug into the terrain and spun the airplane around. Substantial damage to the airplane fuselage resulted, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. A postaccident examination of the airplane by the pilot found that the airplane’s battery hadwas having intermittent voltage drops as a result of an internal crack in the bridge between cells. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N214FL](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N214FL), registered now, S/N 2495, built 2020 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FINN LASSEN RV-4 - Registry model: [Finn Lassen RV-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/finn-lassen-rv-4) (registry code 05639MX) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Mazda 13B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/mazda-13b) (registry code 43200, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 2495 - Year built: 2020 - Airframe hours: 125 - Engines: MAZDA 13-B 146 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 1, 2024, 5 hours before - Departed: 9FL5, Bell, FL - Destination: FL10, McAlpin, FL - Airport: FD71, O'Brien Airpark East/West - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Angle of attack indicator, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS, Stall warning system, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 19, 2024; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 1,139 total, 96 in this make and model, 1,091 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: GNV, 39 nm away - METAR: METAR KGNV 091653Z 09006KT 10SM FEW033 SCT050 27/22 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP191 T02670217 $= ## 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 20241109020809A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241109020809A), Nov 9, 2024: Finn Lassen RV-4, O'Brien, FL, Substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no injuries sustained and he believes there was an electrical failure and that he ground looped the aircraft while attempting… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195534. 5.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18317612&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA056%20Pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photos (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 350 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18317350&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA056%20Photo%20Array-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.