# NTSB NYC01LA205: Rans S-7, N56RP, Sydnorsville, VA, August 8, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 8, 2001, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC) - Place: Sydnorsville, VA - Coordinates: 36.989082, -79.88903 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.9891&lon=-79.8890&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report June 3, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 52967 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC01LA205 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52967/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC01LA205 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to an engine over-temperature condition, which resulted in a forced landing and subsequent collision with trees. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, climb - to cruise - powerplant - overtemperature (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, emergency landing - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting his first flight in the experimental homebuilt airplane. Shortly after takeoff from a private airstrip, the engine water pressure dropped to zero, and the engine began to overheat. The pilot turned back toward the private airstrip; however, the engine was losing power, and the airplane was not able to maintain altitude. The pilot attempted to perform a forced landing to field, however, the airplane struck a tree prior to coming to rest in a field. The pilot added that the engine appeared to stop just prior to the impact with the tree. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact mechanical failure. The airplane's cooling system was impact damaged and a significant amount of engine coolant was observed on the ground. It was noted that the composite propeller did not exhibit any damage consistent with rotation. The airplane was equipped with a Rotax 582 engine, which was not certified for airplane use. ## Factual narrative On August 8, 2001, about 1100 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Rans S-7, N56RP, was substantially damaged during a forced landing shortly after takeoff from a private airstrip in Sydnorsville, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot was conducting his first flight in the airplane. In a written statement, the pilot said he took off from the private airstrip, circled the area three times, and then elected to fly to the New River Valley Airport, Dublin, Virginia. As the airplane began to climb, the engine water pressure dropped to zero, and the engine began to overheat. The pilot turned back toward the private airstrip; however, the engine was losing power, and the airplane was not able to maintain altitude. The pilot attempted to perform a forced landing to field; however, the airplane struck a tree prior to coming to rest in a field. The pilot added that the engine appeared to stop just prior to the impact with the tree. The wreckage was examined by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. The airplane was equipped with an uncertificated Rotax 582 engine. The complete engine assembly was bent 90 degrees up and to the left, and the forward cockpit area was severely damaged. The composite propeller did not exhibit any damage consistent with rotation; however, the engine rotated freely, and compression was attained on both cylinders. The airplane's cooling system was impact damaged and a significant amount of engine coolant was observed on the ground. The Rotax 582 Engine Operator's Manual stated: "Danger!: This engine, by its design, is subject to sudden stoppage! Engine stoppage can result in crash landings. Such crash landings can lead to serious bodily injury or death. Never fly the aircraft equipped with this engine at locations, airspeeds, altitudes, or other circumstances from which a successful no-power landing cannot be made, after sudden engine stoppage." The manual further stated: "Warning!: This is not a certificated aircraft engine. It has not received any safety or durability testing, and conforms to no aircraft standards. It is for use in experimental, uncertificated aircraft and vehicles only in which an engine failure will not compromise safety...." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N56RP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N56RP-2001-12-05), registration cancelled 2001-12-05, S/N 1189060 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Rans S-7 - Registry model: [Purvis Ronald E RANS S-7 COURIER](https://openairdocs.org/model/purvis-ronald-e-rans-s-7-courier) (registry code 05616YW) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1189060 - Airframe hours: 642 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Cecil A. Philpott - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2001, 0 hours before - Departed: NONE, Sydnorsville, VA - Destination: PSK, DUBLIN, VA - Airport: NONE, Private, runway 09, 2,800 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 1, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 132 total, 0 in this make and model, 59 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: ROA, 30 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 20010808022279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010808022279A), Aug 8, 2001: Rockymount, VA, No damage. (-23) The pilot ground-looped the aircraft on his first takeoff attempt on rwy 090. Witnesses saw him push the aircraft back onto the runway and back taxi to… 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.