# NTSB NYC05LA030: Day VP-2, N19LC, Warrenton, VA, December 8, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 8, 2004, 15:20 local (20:20 UTC) - Place: Warrenton, VA - Coordinates: 38.733055, -77.798332 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7331&lon=-77.7983&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 60715 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC05LA030 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60715/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC05LA030 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined - Forced landing, descent - emergency - In flight collision with object, descent - emergency - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The pilot had just completed recent maintenance to the airplane's converted automobile engine. Before conducting the accident flight, the pilot ran the engine for 20 minutes, of which 1 minute was at full power. After takeoff, the engine began to run rough, and the cylinder head temperature rose. The engine rpm then progressively dropped from full power to 2,300 rpm, and the pilot attempted to return to the airport; however, he conducted a forced landing to a clearing as the aircraft settled with limited power. During the forced landing, the airplane struck trees, and subsequently impacted the ground. The pilot added that the engine had seized on a prior flight, in September 2004. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the engine had seized and heat damage was noted. ## Factual narrative On December 8, 2004, at 1520 eastern standard time, a homebuilt VP-2, N19LC, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, after experiencing a total loss of engine power, while climbing out from the Warrenton-Fauquier Airport (W66), Warrenton, Virginia. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local test flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, he had just completed recent maintenance to the airplane's converted automobile engine. Before conducting the accident flight, the pilot ran the engine for 20 minutes, of which 1 minute was at full power. After takeoff, the engine began to run rough, and the cylinder head temperature rose. The engine rpm then progressively dropped from full power to 2,300 rpm, and the pilot attempted to return to the airport; however, he conducted a forced landing to a clearing as the aircraft settled with limited power. During the forced landing, the airplane struck trees, and subsequently impacted the ground. The pilot added that the engine had seized on a prior flight, in September 2004. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to the wings. The inspector also noted that the engine had seized, and heat damage was noted. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N19LC](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N19LC), registered now, S/N LD-1, built 1988 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Day VP-2 - Registry model: [Day Leroy Carter LD V P II](https://openairdocs.org/model/day-leroy-carter-ld-v-p-ii) (registry code 0563694) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Volkswagen CONVERSION](https://openairdocs.org/engine/volkswagen-conversion) (registry code 63501, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: LD-1 - Airframe hours: 207 - Engines: Hapi 60-E 60 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Registered owner: Leroy C. Day - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2004, 2 hours before - Departed: W66, Warrenton, VA - Airport: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2003; seat: center; flight hours: 370 total, 356 in this make and model, 340 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: CJR ## 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 20041208035419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041208035419A), Dec 8, 2004: Amtr VP2, Warrenton, VA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot (also builder/owner) was on his first test flight after repairing the amateur-built aircraft's engine. Pilot had ground-run engine at high RPM (but… 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.