# NTSB LAX03LA063: Davis YAK-3 UR-2000, N498SD, Parker, AZ, January 10, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 9, 2003, 17:15 local (Jan 10, 2003, 00:15 UTC) - Place: Parker, AZ - Coordinates: 34.150001, -114.26667 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.1500&lon=-114.2667&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration Scottsdale FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 56310 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA063 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56310/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56310 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA063 ## Probable cause failure of the propeller shaft extension mechanism resulting in a loss of power, and the pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Propeller failure/malfunction, takeoff - initial climb - propeller system/accessories,prop control unit - failure (cause) - aborted landing - initiated, pilot in command - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency descent/landing - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The airplane collided with terrain during an off airport forced landing after the failure of the propeller pitch change control during initial climb after an aborted landing. The propeller blades remained in the high-pitch, low-rpm setting, and did not provide sufficient power to sustain flight. The pilot landed the airplane about 1.5 miles from the airport in open desert terrain. The pilot felt that the propeller shaft extension mechanism failed prior to his landing approach at the airport, resulting in a loss of propeller control. ## Factual narrative On January 9, 2003, about 1715 mountain standard time, a Davis Yak-3 UR-2000, N498SD, collided with terrain during an off airport forced landing at Parker, Arizona. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal cross-country flight departed Chino, California, at 1600, en route to Parker. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. A witness stated that the airplane attempted to land, but appeared to land long. The airplane was near the end of the runway before the pilot aborted the landing. The witness said that the engine did not sound like it was running smoothly. The airframe sustained substantial damage during a collision with terrain about 1.5 miles from the airport. According to the pilot, after landing long on runway 19, he attempted a go-around. The propeller blades remained in the high-pitch, low-rpm setting, and the engine did not develop sufficient power to sustain flight. He felt that the propeller shaft extension mechanism failed prior to his landing approach, resulting in the loss of propeller control. He felt that this loss of control resulted in the longer than normal landing, and the failure of the engine to deliver sufficient power to maintain flight during the aborted landing. The Airport/Facility Directory, Southwest U. S., indicated that runway 19 was 4,780 feet long and 75 feet wide. The runway surface was asphalt, and the field elevation was 452 feet. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N498SD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N498SD), registered now, S/N 123012 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Davis YAK-3 UR-2000 - Registry model: [Yakovlev/Davis YAK 3UR-2000](https://openairdocs.org/model/yakovlev-davis-yak-3ur-2000) (registry code 05606UH) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-2000 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-2000-series) (registry code 52023, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 123012 - Engines: Pratt & Whitney R2000-7M2 1450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Samuel C. Davis - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 2, 2002, 3 hours before - Departed: CNO, CHINO, CA - Destination: P20, PARKER, AZ - Airport: KP20, Avi Suquilla, runway 19, 4,800 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 58; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 11, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 560 total, 54 in this make and model, 480 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: EED, 41 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 20030109000239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030109000239A), Jan 9, 2003: Yaklev YAK3, Parker, AZ, Substantial damage. (.19)On January 9, 2003, about 1715 mountain standard time, a YAK-3 UR-2000, N498SD, collided with terrain during an off airport forced landing at Parker,… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 5, 2004, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=56310. 455 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 408 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392450&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation-Airshow Manager (item 2, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40217061&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation-Airshow%20Manager-Master.PDF 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.