# NTSB FTW02LA029: Landoll Vans RV 3-A, N96LS, Denton, TX, November 3, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 3, 2001, 15:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Denton, TX - Coordinates: 33.210655, -97.129974 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.2107&lon=-97.1300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 26, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53712 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW02LA029 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53712/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW02LA029 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to perform a preflight inspection, which resulted in a loss of total engine power due to oil starvation. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable training 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(total) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft preflight - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,oil - starvation - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot had spent most of the day waxing his airplane and decided to fly it once around the pattern. The engine start-up, taxi, and engine run-up "indications were normal." While climbing out at 600 feet agl, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted, unsuccessfully, to restart the engine. During a forced landing to a field, the airplane impacted small trees and vegetation. Examination of the engine revealed it was "seized" and contained no oil. No evidence of an oil leak was found. The mechanic, who had been servicing the airplane, reported to the FAA inspector that he had drained the oil from the airplane's engine, left the airplane unattended, and had not replenished the oil prior to the accident flight. ## Factual narrative On November 3, 2001, approximately 1500 central standard time, a Landoll Vans RV 3-A single-engine homebuilt experimental airplane, N96LS, was substantially damaged when it struck trees and terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power during takeoff from the Denton Municipal Airport, Denton, Texas. The airplane was owned by N96LS Club LTD of Wilmington, Delaware. The commercial pilot, operator and sole occupant of the airplane, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported in the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1/2) that he had spent most of the day waxing his airplane and decided to fly it once around the pattern. The engine start-up, taxi, and engine run-up "indications were normal." During climb out after takeoff from runway 17, he had turned crosswind and had climbed to 600 feet when the engine lost power. The pilot turned downwind, switched fuel tanks, and attempted, unsuccessfully, to restart the engine. The pilot determined that he could not make it back to the runway and initiated a forced landing, without flaps, to a field. During the approach, the airplane impacted small trees and vegetation. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the ground and came to rest upright. An examination of the airplane, by the FAA inspector who responded to the accident site, revealed that both wing fuel tanks were full of fuel. Both the left and right wings sustained substantial damage, and the left main landing gear was found separated. The engine was found "seized," and it contained no oil. No evidence of an oil leak was found. The mechanic, who had been servicing the airplane, reported to the FAA inspector that he had drained the oil from the airplane's engine, left the airplane unattended, and had not replenished the oil before the accident flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N96LS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N96LS-2013-08-13), registration cancelled 2013-08-13, S/N 10526, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Landoll Vans RV 3-A - Registry model: [Landoll Mark L VANS RV3-A](https://openairdocs.org/model/landoll-mark-l-vans-rv3-a) (registry code 05609UI) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 10526 - Airframe hours: 53.2 - Engines: Lycoming O-290 D 125 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Brendan P. Carmody - Registered owner: N96LS Club LTD - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2000 - Departed: DTO, Denton, TX - Destination: Denton, TX - Airport: DTO, Denton Muni, runway 17, 6,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 25, 2000; seat: front; flight hours: 2,200 total, 5 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.22 inHg - Observed at: DTO, 1 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 20011103032439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011103032439A), Nov 3, 2001: Denton, TX, No damage. (-23) On November 3, 2001, approximately 1500 central standard time, a landoll vans RV3-A single engine experimental airplane, N96LS owned by brandan p.… 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.