# NTSB LAX01LA254: Watkins Velocity, N222RW, Winslow, AZ, July 21, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 21, 2001, 07:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Winslow, AZ - Coordinates: 35.100551, -110.640502 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1006&lon=-110.6405&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 4 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 24, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - FLIGHT STANDARDS DIST OFFICE - NTSB case key (mKey): 52789 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA254 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52789/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA254 ## Probable cause The separation of the number three cylinder head from the barrel resulting in a loss of engine oil during flight. Factors were the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing, and the rough uneven ground of the forced landing site. ## 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 assembly,cylinder - separation (cause) - fluid,oil - exhaustion (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) ## Analysis During cruise flight, the engine lost power, followed by an off-airport forced landing. The airplane collided with obstacles on the ground. The pilot, who was receiving flight following advisories, reported a loss of engine oil pressure to the air traffic controller. During the flight's diversion to an airport, the engine continued to lose power and the pilot was unable to maintain altitude and reach the divert airport. Local police reported that the pilot subsequently returned to the airplane, chopped it up with an axe, and transported it from the site in a truck. Subsequently, repair personnel examined the engine noting that the number three cylinder head had separated from the cylinder barrel allowing the engine oil to drain from the engine during flight. Engine records indicated the last engine overhaul was January 1988. The pilot reported the engine had 1,275 hours since overhaul with 38 hours since the airplane's last annual inspection in May 2001. ## Factual narrative On July 21, 2001, at 0720 hours mountain standard time, an experimental Velocity, N222RW, reported a loss of engine oil pressure and made an emergency forced landing 8 to 10 miles north of Winslow, Arizona. The airplane was substantially damaged during the ensuing ground obstacle collision sequence. One passenger received minor injuries, and the certificated private pilot and remaining three passengers were not injured. The airplane was being operated as a personal flight by a private owner under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight had originated earlier that morning from Grand Canyon, Arizona, and was en route to Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the time of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and an IFR flight plan had been filed, but not activated. According to Albuquerque center air traffic controllers, at 0720, the pilot, who had been flight following with center, requested airport location information as the result of an in-flight maintenance problem. At 0729, the pilot reported that he had experienced a loss of engine oil pressure, and that he was proceeding to the Winslow-Lindbergh Regional Airport. At 0733, he advised air traffic controllers that he would be unable to reach Winslow, and that he was "going down." Controllers advised the pilot the location of an emergency landing strip 15 miles north of the airport. Subsequently, controllers lost all radio and radar contact with the airplane. At 0919, Arizona Department of Public Safety Air Range No. 42 located the accident site. All the occupants were transported to Winslow Memorial Hospital, Winslow, treated, and released. Navajo County sheriff deputies reported that the pilot later returned to the site with a pickup truck and an ax. He chopped up the airplane, loaded it in the truck, and departed the area. On November 19, 2001, the Safety Board hired a representative from D and B Aircraft Engines of Bethany, Oklahoma, to travel to Cashion, Oklahoma, and inspect the wreckage at its storage location. The examination revealed that the engine number three cylinder head had separated from the cylinder barrel, causing a gradual loss of engine oil. The details of the examination are included in this report. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N222RW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N222RW-2008-10-09), registration cancelled 2008-10-09, S/N DM 101, built 1980 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Watkins Velocity - Registry model: [Watkins Billy Ray JR VELOCITY](https://openairdocs.org/model/watkins-billy-ray-jr-velocity) (registry code 05616LR) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: DM101 - Airframe hours: 1130 - Engines: Avco Lycoming IO-360-C1C 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Billy Ray Watkins, Jr. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 18, 2001, 38 hours before - Departed: GCN, Grand Canyon, AZ - Destination: ABQ, Albuquerque, NM - Flight plan: IFR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review October 26, 1999; seat: left; flight hours: 1,677 total, 1,130 in this make and model, 1,533 as pilot in command, 39 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: INW ## 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 20010721017839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010721017839A), Jul 21, 2001: Amtr VELOCITY, Winslow, AZ, Substantial damage. (.19) On July 21, 2001, at 0720 hours mountain standard time, an experimental Velocity, N222RW, reported a loss of engine oil pressure and made an emergency… 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.