# NTSB SEA04CA054: Menefee RAF Vari-Eze, N200TZ, Bremerton, WA, March 21, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 21, 2004, 10:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Bremerton, WA - Coordinates: 47.492778, -122.762496 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.4928&lon=-122.7625&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 30, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 58937 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA04CA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58937/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04CA054 ## Probable cause Failure to maintain airspeed while on final approach resulting in a stall. Factors include a rough running engine for undetermined reasons and rough/uneven terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, climb - reason for occurrence undetermined - Hard landing, landing - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - Gear collapsed, landing - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - landing gear - overload ## Analysis The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff the aircraft developed a rough running engine. The pilot stated he turned back toward the departure runway, but was unable to land due to traffic on the runway. The pilot stated he entered the traffic pattern and continued to the south for a landing on the departure runway. The pilot said the airplane was low, slow and unresponsive to roll inputs after turning final. Shortly after turning final, the pilot reported that the airplane "pancaked" in, coming to rest in a grassy area adjacent to runway 19. The pilot later reported that he believed the rough running engine was caused by a fouled sparkplug. An FAA inspector inspected the airplane after the accident and reported that there was no evidence found to indicate a mechanical failure and the cause of the engine vibration was undetermined. ## Factual narrative On March 21, 2004, at 1000 Pacific standard time, an amateur built, experimental category, Menefee RAF Vari-Eze airplane, N200TZ, sustained substantial damage during a hard landing at the Bremerton National Airport, Bremerton, Washington. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local flight under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the flight. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board IIC, the pilot reported that shortly after takeoff the aircraft developed a rough running engine. The pilot stated he turned back toward the departure runway (19/1), but was unable to land due to traffic on the runway. The pilot stated he entered the traffic pattern and continued to the south for a landing on the departure runway. The pilot said the airplane was low, slow and unresponsive to roll inputs after turning final. Shortly after turning final, the pilot reported that the airplane "pancaked" in, coming to rest in a grassy area adjacent to runway 19. The pilot reported that he believed the rough running engine was caused by a fouled sparkplug. An FAA inspector from Seattle, Washington, Flight Standards District Office inspected the airplane after the accident and reported that there was no evidence found to indicate a mechanical failure and the cause of the engine vibration was undetermined. The airplane was powered by an E81T Subaru engine rated at 100 horsepower. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N200TZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N200TZ-2008-12-09), registration cancelled 2008-12-09, S/N 98383, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Menefee RAF Vari-Eze - Registry model: [Menefee Michael O RAF VARI-EZE](https://openairdocs.org/model/menefee-michael-o-raf-vari-eze) (registry code 05613WQ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 98383 - Engines: Subaru E81T reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Allan E. Martin - Registered owner: Michael O. Menefee - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: PWT, Bremerton, WA - Destination: PWT, Bremerton, WA - Airport: PWT, Bremerton National, runway 16 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3; flight hours: 1,022 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20040321004359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040321004359A), Mar 21, 2004: Amtr VARIEZE, Bremerton, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot stated that after he initiated a touch and go, the aircraft developed a severe vibration. He then called out on his radio that he needed 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.