# NTSB SEA07LA188: Vance Renegade Spirit, N35JV, Blanding, UT, June 3, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 3, 2007, 10:30 local (17:30 UTC) - Place: Blanding, UT - Coordinates: 38.25, -109.916664 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.2500&lon=-109.9167&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 66083 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07LA188 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66083/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA188 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power during cruise due to oil starvation. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, cruise - fluid,oil - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency descent/landing - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - high vegetation ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the cross-country flight the engine lost power and he initiated a forced landing to a nearby road. During the landing roll, the airplane struck small cedar trees and sagebrush and nosed over. Disassembly and examination of the engine revealed that there was metal transfer from the pistons to cylinder walls. The pilot stated that the metal transfer from the piston to the cylinder walls indicated "galling and seizing of the engine" and felt that it was caused by a lack of oil or a previous overheat condition. No additional anomalies were noted with the engine. ## Factual narrative On June 3, 2007, about 1030 mountain standard time, an amateur-built experimental-category Vance Renegade airplane, N35JV, sustained substantial damage following an in-flight loss of engine power and subsequent off airport forced landing near Blanding, Utah. The airplane was owned by the pilot, and operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country flight under the provisions of Title 14, CFR Part 91. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The cross-country flight originated from Farmington, New Mexico, approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes prior to the accident with the intended destination of Blanding. In a written statement, the pilot reported that during the cross-country flight, he switched from the left fuel tank to the right fuel tank about one hour into the flight. About 15 minutes later, the engine lost power and he initiated a forced landing to a nearby dirt road. The airplane struck small cedar trees and sagebrush during the landing and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. Examination of the engine, by the pilot, revealed that there was metal transfer from the pistons to cylinder walls on all four cylinders. The pilot stated that the metal transfer from the piston to the cylinder walls indicated "galling and seizing of the engine" and felt that it was caused by a lack of oil or a previous overheat condition. No additional anomalies were noted with the engine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N35JV](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N35JV-2013-02-11), registration cancelled 2013-02-11, S/N 001, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Vance Renegade Spirit - Registry model: [Vance James C RENEGADE SPIRIT](https://openairdocs.org/model/vance-james-c-renegade-spirit) (registry code 056063V) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 001 - Airframe hours: 345 - Engines: Rotax AK-450 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Floyd H. Richey - Registered owner: James V. Vance - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2007, 7.3 hours before - Departed: FMN, FARMINGTON, NM - Destination: BDG, BLANDING, UT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: minor; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2007; seat: rear; flight hours: 14,000 total, 7 in this make and model, 10,000 as pilot in command, 70 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 100 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F 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.