# NTSB FTW00LA138: Noteman RV6-A, N456TP, Kanab, UT, May 6, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 6, 2000, 08:00 local (14:00 UTC) - Place: Kanab, UT - Coordinates: 37.269451, -112.229209 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2695&lon=-112.2292&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 2, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49197 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW00LA138 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49197/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW00LA138 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power as result of the failure of an exhaust valve. A factor was the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - engine assembly,valve,exhaust - failure (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - Nose over, emergency landing - terrain condition - soft - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The 683-hour pilot reported that while in cruise flight at 8,000 feet msl (2,000 feet agl), the engine started to run rough after he heard a 'pop' sound come from the engine compartment. The airplane was not able to maintain altitude and the pilot elected to perform an emergency landing to an estimated 1,800-foot stretch of a road. During the approach to the road, the pilot observed a vehicle entering the road in the opposite direction, and the pilot elected to abandon the approach and land on an 800-foot long meadow adjacent to the road. The pilot added that the airplane landed hard, the nose wheel sank into the soft ground, and the airplane nosed over to the inverted position. Examination of the engine revealed a broken exhaust valve. ## Factual narrative On May 6, 2000, at 0800 mountain daylight time, a Noteman RV6-A homebuilt experimental airplane, N456TP, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a partial loss of engine power while in cruise flight near Kanab, Utah. The non-instrument rated private pilot was not injured and his passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. No flight plan was filed for the 195 nautical mile cross-country flight from Hurricane, Utah, to the Canyonlands Field Airport, near Moab, Utah. The flight originated from the Grassy Meadows Sky Ranch (UT47), near Hurricane, Utah, approximately 0730. The 683-hour pilot reported that while in cruise flight at 8,000 feet msl (2,000 feet agl), the engine started to run rough after he heard a "pop" sound come from the engine compartment. The pilot added that the airplane was not able to maintain altitude, and he elected to perform an emergency landing to an estimated 1,800-foot stretch of a paved road. During the approach to the road, the pilot observed a vehicle entering the road in the opposite direction, and the pilot elected to abandon the approach and land on an 800-foot long meadow adjacent to the road. The pilot stated that the airplane landed hard, the nose wheel sank into the soft ground, and the airplane nosed over to the inverted position. There was no fire and both occupants exited the aircraft unassisted. Examination of the 4-cylinder engine by the pilot/builder of the airplane revealed a broken exhaust valve. The pilot/builder stated, in the enclosed Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2), that the valve failure was "probably caused by old intake gasket/intake air leak." The engine had accumulated a total of 1,600 hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N456TP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N456TP-2004-02-13), registration cancelled 2004-02-13, S/N 23247, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: NOTEMAN RV6-A - Registry model: [Noteman Russell P RV6-A](https://openairdocs.org/model/noteman-russell-p-rv6-a) (registry code 05604F8) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 23247 - Airframe hours: 208 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A4M 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Russell P. Noteman - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 11, 1999, 72 hours before - Departed: UT47, HURRICANE, UT - Destination: CYN, CANYONLANDS, UT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 47; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 683 total, 572 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 20000506009939A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000506009939A), May 6, 2000: Amtr RV6A, Kanab, UT, No damage. (-23) Pop in engine compartment and then a rough running engine, set up in touched down hard flipping aircraft upside down 50 feet from touchdown. 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.