# NTSB FTW04LA199: Drzymala RV-4, N7XD, Collinsville, TX, August 1, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 1, 2004, 16:25 local (21:25 UTC) - Place: Collinsville, TX - Coordinates: 33.555557, -96.922775 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5556&lon=-96.9228&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 59785 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW04LA199 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59785/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW04LA199 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper in-flight planning, which resulted in a total loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - fluid,fuel - exhaustion (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The 625-hour pilot was returning home from a long cross country flight in his single-engine experimental airplane, when the engine stopped producing power approximately 2 hours and 25 minutes after he last fueled. The pilot made a forced landing to a grass field on private property. Examination of the airplane reveled that the fuel tanks were intact and empty. The pilot had recently installed an overhauled engine on the airplane, which burned an average of 11.5 gallons of fuel per hour. The total fuel capacity of the airplane was 32 gallons, and the usable fuel was approximately 31 gallons. ## Factual narrative On August 1, 2004, approximately 1625, a Drzymala RV-4 single-engine homebuilt airplane, N7XD, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Collinsville, Texas. The private pilot and the passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. A flight plan was not filed for the cross-country flight that originated at the Allen County Airport (K88) near Iola, Kansas, about 1400, and was destined for the Ironhead Airport (T58) near Sanger, Texas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot departed from Sanger, Texas, on July 24, 2004, and flew to Oshkosh, Wisconsin, to attend the Experimental Aircraft Association's annual fly-in event. He was returning from the fly-in when the accident occurred. A witness observed the airplane flying in a southwesterly direction approximately 200 feet above the ground. The engine was not operating. The airplane then made a 90-degree turn to the east, and descended in an approximate 45-degree nose down attitude. The airplane came to rest upright on the front lawn of a private residence. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported that the fuel tanks were empty and not breached. The tanks appeared to be dry, and no residual fuel was found in the main fuel line from the fuel pump to the engine. He also reported that the airplane sustained structural damage. The flaps were set approximately 5-10 degrees, and flight control cable continuity was established for all flight control surfaces. The airplane was powered by an overhauled 180-horsepower Lycoming O-320-E2A engine that was installed just prior to the trip to Oshkosh. There were no logbooks for the engine, which was part of the purchase agreement. Examination of the airfame logbooks revealed the last annual inspection was performed on June 21, 2003, and the airplane had accrued approximately 40 hours since that inspection. Fuel receipts were obtained from locations along the pilot's route of flight. Based on these receipts, it was calculated that the newly installed engine burned approximately 11.5 gallons of fuel per hour. The total fuel capacity of this airplane was 32 gallons, of which, approximately 31 gallons were usable. The pilot purchased 24.6 gallons of fuel in Iola, Kansas, at 1343. The pilot's wife reported that her husband called her just before 1400 and told her that he would be departing soon. The accident occurred approximately 1625. The pilot held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land and was also a certified airframe and powerplant mechanic. His last Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) third class medical was issued on June 11, 2003. At that time, he reported a total of 625 flight hours. At 1653, the automated weather observing system at the Denton Municipal Airport (DTO) near Denton, Texas, located approximately 28 nautical miles south of the site of the accident, reported wind from 100 degrees at 8 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 93 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 68 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure setting of 29.99 inches of Mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7XD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N7XD), registered now, S/N 2026PD, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DRZYMALA RV-4 - Registry model: [Drzymala Peter S RV-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/drzymala-peter-s-rv-4) (registry code 05608JV) (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: 2026PD - Airframe hours: 337.3 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William Noel - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 21, 2003, 40.7 hours before - Departed: K88, Iola, KS - Destination: T58, Sanger, TX - Flight plan: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review June 11, 2003; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 625 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 100° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: DTO, 28 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 20040801021449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040801021449A), Aug 1, 2004: Amtr RV4, Collinsville, TX, Substantial damage, 2 fatal. (-23) On August 1, 2004, N7XD, a drzymala peter s, model RV-4, serial number 2026PD, owned and operated by william e. noel, sustained substantial damage after… 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.