# NTSB NYC08LA027: Vans RV-7A, N723EP, West Point, VA, November 5, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 5, 2007, 16:35 local (21:35 UTC) - Place: West Point, VA - Coordinates: 37.624443, -76.906112 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6244&lon=-76.9061&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 10, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 67024 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC08LA027 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67024/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC08LA027 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - normal - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - crop ## Analysis The amateur-built Vans Aircraft RV-7A, had climbed to an altitude of 2,500 feet, and was in cruise flight, when the engine experienced a complete loss of power. The pilot was unable to restart the engine, and performed a forced landing to a bean field. During the landing, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall, fuselage, and both wing spars. Postaccident examination of the engine did not reveal evidence of any preimpact malfunctions. In addition, fuel observed in the carburetor and gascolator was absent of contamination. The airplane had undergone an initial airworthiness inspection, about 9 days prior to the accident and the engine had been operated about 7 total hours since new. ## Factual narrative On November 5, 2007, about 1635 eastern standard time, an amateur-built Vans Aircraft RV-7A, N723EP, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, following a loss of engine power while in cruise flight near West Point, Virginia. The certificated commercial pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the flight that departed St. Mary's County Regional Airport (2W6), Leonardtown, Maryland, destined for the Middle Peninsula Airport (FYJ), West Point, Virginia. The personal flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. In a written statement, the pilot reported that the airplane had climbed to an altitude of 2,500 feet, and was in cruise flight, when the engine experienced a complete loss of power. He was unable to restart the engine, and performed a forced landing to a bean field located about 10 miles northwest of FYJ. During the landing, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall, fuselage, and both wing spars. Postaccident examination of the engine by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector did not reveal any evidence of preimpact malfunctions. In addition, fuel observed in the carburetor and gascolator was absent of contamination. The airplane was equipped with an Aero Sport O-360-A1A engine. The pilot reported that the airplane had undergone an initial airworthiness inspection about 9 days prior to the accident. The engine had been operated about 7 total hours since new. The pilot reported 1,301 hours of total flight experience, which included about 50 hours in the same make and model as the accident airplane. A weather observation taken at FYJ, about the time of the accident, reported: winds from 170 degrees at 4 knots, visibility 10 statue miles, sky clear, temperature 18 degrees Celsius (C), dew point 4 degrees C; altimeter 29.99 inches of mercury. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N723EP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N723EP-2017-07-07), registration cancelled 2017-07-07, S/N 72609, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Vans Aircraft RV-7A - Registry model: [Ditter Eric RV7A](https://openairdocs.org/model/ditter-eric-rv7a) (registry code 05624XN) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1a) (registry code 41594, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 72609 - Airframe hours: 4 - Engines: Aero Sport O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 1, 2007, 4 hours before - Departed: 2W6, Leonardtown, MD - Destination: FYJ, West Point, VA - Airport: FYJ, Middle Peninsula ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 1,301 total, 47 in this make and model, 1,244 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: FYJ, 10 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 20071105826429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20071105826429A), Nov 5, 2007: Amtr RV7A, Mascot, VA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot was enroute from st. maries county airport (2W6) to westpoint (W97). At 2,500 ft., engine quit. Pilot called mayday on 121.5. Aircraft landed… 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.