# NTSB SEA07LA059: Barnhart RV-6, N601DB, Auburn, WA, February 21, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 21, 2007, 14:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Auburn, WA - Coordinates: 47.327777, -122.226669 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3278&lon=-122.2267&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65264 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07LA059 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65264/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA059 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to the obstruction of the engine's air inlet by a fabricated neoprene seal, and inadequate maintenance by unknown maintenance personnel. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing. ## Analysis During the initial climb after take off, the airplane's engine lost power. The pilot said there was a motel and casino in front of him, so he performed a 90 degree left-hand turn. The pilot landed the airplane parallel to and inside the airport perimeter fence with the right wing sliding along the fence. The airplane landed hard on both main landing gear and they collapsed. Additionally the engine mounts were broken, the engine firewall was wrinkled, both wings exhibited buckling and wrinkling, and the fuselage was wrinkled. Post accident examination of the engine revealed that a large piece of neoprene was lodged in the engine's air intake. The pilot said that he and the mechanic fabricated a neoprene seal for the engine's air intake during the conditional inspection, which was completed on February 12, 2007. The airplane had flown 0.2 hours, out of conditional inspection, at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On February 21, 2007, at approximately 1415 Pacific standard time, a Barnhart RV-6 experimental homebuilt airplane, N601DB, was substantially damaged during a forced landing attempt following a loss of engine power at Auburn Municipal Airport (S50), Auburn, Washington. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant on board, received minor injuries. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight which was originating at the time of the accident. A flight plan had not been filed. The pilot said that he had just departed from runway 16 when the airplane's engine lost power. He said that at that moment there was a motel and casino in front of him, so he performed a 90 degree left-hand turn. The pilot landed the airplane parallel to and inside the airport perimeter fence with the right wing sliding along the fence. The airplane landed hard on both main landing gear, and they immediately collapsed. Additionally the engine mounts were broken, the engine firewall was wrinkled, both wings exhibited buckling and wrinkling, and the fuselage was wrinkled. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that a large piece of neoprene was lodged in the engine's air intake. The pilot said that he and the mechanic fabricated a neoprene seal for the engine's air intake during the conditional inspection, which was completed on February 12, 2007. The pilot said he departed Boeing Field, Seattle, Washington, and flew to Auburn, Washington, for a touch-and-go landing. The airplane had flown 0.2 hours, out of conditional inspection, at the time of the accident. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, takeoff - initial climb - maintenance,installation - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (cause) - engine inlet assembly - blocked(partial) (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Hard landing, emergency landing after takeoff - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N601DB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N601DB-2018-01-25), registration cancelled 2018-01-25, S/N 23744, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Barnhart RV-6 - Registry model: [Barnhart David A RV-6](https://openairdocs.org/model/barnhart-david-a-rv-6) (registry code 05604V3) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-320-series) (registry code 41509, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 23744 - Airframe hours: 430 - Engines: Lycoming IO-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James H. Thomson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 1, 2007, 0.2 hours before - Departed: S50, Auburn, WA - Destination: S50, Auburn, WA - Airport: S50, Auburn Municipal Airport, runway 16, 3,400 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; airline transport, military; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 20,571 total, 153 in this make and model, 16,000 as pilot in command, 223 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Observed at: SEA, 8 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 20070221002629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070221002629A), Feb 21, 2007: Amtr RV6, Auburn, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) Power loss @ 100 feet off runway R-16. Made a 90 degree left turn to avoid persons and property. Aircraft landed hard and sheared the gear off, skidded… 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.