# NTSB LAX00LA275: Steel/Vans RV6, N64ME, Winnemucca, NV, July 21, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 21, 2000, 13:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Winnemucca, NV - Coordinates: 41.119518, -118.050827 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.1195&lon=-118.0508&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49803 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX00LA275 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49803/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX00LA275 ## Probable cause A loss of power due to overheating resulting from the failure of the engine build-up facility to install a vernatherm. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, cruise - engine accessories,oil cooler actuating assembly - not installed (cause) - maintenance,rebuild/remanufacture - improper, other maintenance personnel (cause) - powerplant - overtemperature (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft ## Analysis After losing engine power, the amateur-built airplane encountered soft soil and nosed over after overrunning the runway during a forced landing at the airport. The flight left the San Francisco Bay area earlier in the day and was en route ultimately to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In cruise the pilot saw that the engine oil temperature was nearing the upper limit and landed at the airport for it to cool off. After about an hour on the ground, the pilot performed a detailed preflight inspection and run-up, with no abnormalities detected. The pilot then departed for the next en route stop. About 10 minutes after departure, the engine oil temperature climbed once more to the red line limit and the pilot decided to turn around. Shortly thereafter, the oil temperature exceeded the red line limit and the engine began to lose power. The pilot reduced the throttle and set up for a landing on a highway and the engine power partially returned. The pilot then attempted to continue to the airport; however, the engine lost power short of the facility. The pilot said she was able to reach the runway, but was too low to make any traffic pattern maneuvers, and too high to land normally. The airplane touched down slightly fast near the halfway point on the runway and was unable to stop prior to overrunning the pavement end. The airplane encountered soft, sandy soil and nosed over. Disassembly of the engine found that the vernatherm was not installed, allowing the oil supply to bypass the oil cooler. The records disclosed that the engine was built-up about 90 hours prior to the accident by a firm which specializes in performance improvement rebuilds for the experimental aircraft market. The engine is a basic Lycoming IO-360 with several modifications for power improvement. ## Factual narrative On July 21, 2000, at 1320 hours Pacific daylight time, an amateur-built Steel Rans RV-6, N64ME, nosed over during a forced landing at the Winnemucca, Nevada, airport. The forced landing was precipitated by a loss of engine power. The airplane, owned and operated by the pilot under 14 CFR Part 91 of the Federal Aviation Regulations, sustained substantial damage. The private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The flight departed the Winnemucca airport about 1230 and was en route to Elko, Nevada. In a telephone interview, the pilot reported that the flight left the San Francisco Bay area earlier in the day and was en route ultimately to Oshkosh, Wisconsin. In the area of Winnemucca, the pilot observed that the engine oil temperature was nearing the upper red line limit and she landed at Winnemucca for it to cool off. After about an hour on the ground, the pilot performed a detailed preflight inspection and run-up, with no abnormalities detected. The pilot then elected to depart Winnemucca and fly to Elko. About 10 minutes after departure, the engine oil temperature began to climb once more to the red line limit and the pilot decided to turn around. After reestablishing a course toward Winnemucca, the oil temperature exceeded the red line limit and the engine began to lose power. The pilot reduced the throttle and set up for a landing on a highway and the engine power returned. The pilot then attempted to continue to Winnemucca and the engine lost power short of the airport. The pilot said she was able to reach the runway, but was too low to make any traffic pattern maneuvers, and too high to land normally. The pilot reported that she was slightly fast and touched down near the halfway point on the runway, and was unable to stop prior to overrunning the pavement end. The airplane encountered soft, sandy soil and nosed over. According to the aircraft owner, following recovery of the aircraft, the engine was disassembled and inspected at Giles Engines in Reno, Nevada. The purpose of the disassembly was to inspect the engine for sudden stoppage damage and repair it for return to service. Disassembly disclosed that the vernatherm had not been installed in the engine and the oil supply was bypassing the oil cooler. The records disclosed that the engine was built-up about 90 hours prior to the accident by a firm which specializes in performance improvement rebuilds for the experimental aircraft market. The engine is a basic Lycoming IO-360 with several modifications for power improvement. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N64ME](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N64ME), registered now, S/N MS-1, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STEEL/VANS RV6 - Registry model: [Steel Mary B RV-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/steel-mary-b-rv-6) (registry code 05608VF) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0-360-B1E](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0-360-b1e) (registry code 41559, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: MS-1 - Airframe hours: 90 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-EXP 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mary B. Steel - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 30, 1999, 90 hours before - Departed: WMC - Destination: EKO, ELKO, NV - Airport: WMC, Winnemucca Muni, runway 14, 7,000 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 876 total, 51 in this make and model, 782 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 198 °F, dew point 99 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: WMC ## 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 20000721014039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000721014039A), Jul 21, 2000: Amtr RV6, Winnemucca, NV, Substantial damage. (-23) According to several witnesses the a/c approached the rwy at high rate of speed and then floated down the length of the runway unable to alnd due to the… 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.