# NTSB SEA07LA259: Rose Peregrine, N13NG, Reno, NV, September 12, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 11, 2007, 17:40 local (Sep 12, 2007, 00:40 UTC) - Place: Reno, NV - Coordinates: 39.668334, -119.876388 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6683&lon=-119.8764&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 66654 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07LA259 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66654/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA259 ## Probable cause The overspeed of the modified racing engine during takeoff that created an oil mist on the exhaust and smoke, and the pilot's failure to maintain a speed above stall speed (Vs) during his attempted emergency landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's diverted attention due to the smoke and the reasonable belief that an in-flight engine compartment fire was occurring. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Airframe/component/system failure/malfunction, takeoff - engine assembly - overspeed (cause) - fluid,oil - leak (cause) - exhaust system,manifold/pipe - smoke (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, emergency landing - emergency procedure - attempted, pilot in command - airspeed(vs) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor) - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis According to witnesses, just after takeoff on Runway 08 as the airplane reached an altitude of about 80 feet above the runway, smoke started coming from the lower part of the engine cowling, and the airplane's propeller stopped turning. As the airplane started to descend, the pilot appeared to attempt to turn left in order to land on a crossing runway (Runway 32), but during the turn the airplane appeared to stall and descend into the terrain. The airplane was recovered, and the engine, which had been highly modified for racing, was torn down and inspected. No pre-impact anomalies or malfunctions were discovered during the teardown, except that the exhaust system heat wrap covering near the crankcase breather was covered by a film of oil residue. The conclusion of the owner was that the increase in power and the pitch of the newly installed propeller allowed the engine to overspeed, resulting in the pressurization of the crankcase, and the ejection of an oil mist onto the exhaust system heat wrap. The owner believes that this resulted in the creation of smoke that got into the cockpit, which likely lead the pilot to believe that he may have had an in-flight fire. The pilot, thinking he may have had an in-flight fire, shut the engine down, and attempted a landing on the crossing runway. This was the first flight of the airplane since the engine had been modified to produce more power, and since the airframe had been modified in an attempt to achieve a higher race airspeed. According to the owner, the engine was operating at a compression ratio of 13.5 to 1, and with the newly installed propeller, the engine had reached an on-ground static speed of 3,800 rpm. ## Factual narrative On September 11, 2007, approximately 1740 Pacific daylight time, a Rose Peregrine experimental racing bi-plane, N13NG, impacted the terrain soon after taking off from runway 08 at Reno-Stead Airport, Reno, Nevada. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was killed, and the airplane, which was registered to a friend of the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The 14 CFR Part 91 pre-race pilot qualification and airplane test flight was being conducted in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan had been filed. According to witnesses, just after takeoff on Runway 08 as the airplane reached an altitude of about 80 feet above the runway, smoke started coming from the lower part of the engine cowling, and the airplane's propeller stopped turning. As the airplane started to descend, the pilot appeared to attempt to turn left in order to land on a crossing runway (Runway 32), but during the turn the airplane appeared to stall and descend into the terrain. The airplane was recovered, and the engine, which had been modified for racing, was torn down and inspected by an associate of the owner. According to the owner, no pre-impact anomalies or malfunctions were discovered during the teardown, except that the exhaust system heat wrap covering near the crankcase breather was covered by a film of oil residue. The conclusion of the owner was that the increase in power and the pitch of the newly installed propeller allowed the engine to overspeed, resulting in the pressurization of the crankcase, and the ejection of an oil mist onto the exhaust system heat wrap. The owner believes that this resulted in the creation of smoke that got into the cockpit, which lead the pilot to believe that he may have had an in-flight fire. The owner said that he believes that the pilot, thinking he may have had an in-flight fire, shut the engine down, and attempted a landing on the crossing runway. During the investigation, it was determined that this was the first flight of the airplane since the engine had been modified to produce more power, and since the airframe had been modified in an attempt to achieve a higher race airspeed. According to the owner, the engine was operating at a compression ratio of 13.5 to 1, and with the newly installed propeller, the engine had reached an on-ground static speed of 3,800 rpm. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N13NG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N13NG-2017-07-06), registration cancelled 2017-07-06, S/N 101, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Rose Peregrine - Registry model: [Rose David L ROSE PEREGRINE](https://openairdocs.org/model/rose-david-l-rose-peregrine) (registry code 056239Q) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-320-series) (registry code 42389, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 101 - Airframe hours: 37 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Air race/show, Part 91 - Registered owner: David L. Rose - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2007 - Departed: 4SD, Reno, NV - Destination: 4SD - Airport: 4SD, Stead Field, runway 08, 7,500 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: fatal; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 6,000 total, 11 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F ## 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 20070911020839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070911020839A), Sep 11, 2007: Amtr ROSEPEREGRIN, Reno, NV, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. (-23) Shortly after takeoff on runway 8, smoke was observed by personnel on the ground, coming from the engine compartment. When the pilot attempted to turn… 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.