# NTSB LAX98LA037: Rodgers/Gaust RV-6, N44JR, Wellington, NV, November 1, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 1, 1997, 09:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Wellington, NV - Coordinates: 38.700019, -119.319931 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7000&lon=-119.3199&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 28, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29997 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA037 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29997/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA037 ## Probable cause Fuel starvation due to a fatigue fractured mixture control cable. Contributing factors were the soft, brush-covered emergency landing field. ## 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 - normal - mixture control,cable - fractured (cause) - mixture control,cable - fatigue (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - terrain condition - open field - terrain condition - high vegetation (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis All engine power was suddenly lost while cruising over mountainous terrain in the pilot's experimental airplane. The pilot made a forced landing on a soft, brush-covered field, and during rollout the airplane nosed over. The pilot indicated that the power loss resulted from the engine's mixture control cable breaking due to fatigue at its carburetor attachment fitting. The component had a total time in service of 114 hours. ## Factual narrative On November 1, 1997, at 0930 hours Pacific standard time, an experimental Rodgers/Gaust RV-6, N44JR, owned and operated by the pilot, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Wellington, Nevada. Neither the private pilot nor the passenger was injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed during the personal flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Bishop, California, at 0830. According to the pilot, engine power was suddenly lost while cruising over mountainous terrain en route to Carson City, Nevada. The pilot made a forced landing in a soft dirt field which was covered with sagebrush. During rollout the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that the airplane had a total engine and airframe time of 114 hours. In the pilot's completed report, he indicated that the loss of engine power resulted from the engine's mixture control cable breaking at its carburetor attachment fitting. The pilot verbally reported that he believed the cable broke due to fatigue. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N44JR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N44JR), registered now, S/N 24545, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Rodgers/Gaust RV-6 - Registry model: [Rodgers Jerry/Gaust Gregory RV-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/rodgers-jerry-gaust-gregory-rv-6) (registry code 056038R) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 24545 - Airframe hours: 114 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jerry T. Rodgers - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 2, 1997, 114 hours before - Departed: BIH, BISHOP, CA - Destination: O04, CARSON CITY, NV ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 1,715 total, 114 in this make and model, 1,715 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F ## 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 19971101045259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971101045259A), Nov 1, 1997: Amtr RV6, Smith Valley, NV, Substantial damage. All engine power was suddenly lost while cruising over mountainous terrainin the pilots experimental airplane. The pilot made a forced landing on a soft,… 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.