# NTSB SEA07LA276: Werner Vari-Eze, N547DB, Tooele, UT, September 2, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 2, 2007, 09:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Tooele, UT - Coordinates: 40.612499, -112.35083 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.6125&lon=-112.3508&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 30, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 67177 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA07LA276 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67177/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA07LA276 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for an undetermined reason. Contributing factors were the lack of suitable terrain for the forced landing and the wind shear conditions encountered during the forced landing attempt. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, approach - vfr pattern - downwind - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - weather condition - windshear (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - flare/touchdown - terrain condition - ditch - terrain condition - none suitable (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said that as he approached his destination, he noticed a large thunderstorm over the airport. He said that his wingman elected to land, but radioed back to him that it was very bumpy. The pilot said that his first two attempts at landing ended with go-arounds due to severe turbulence. On his third attempt, he lost engine power and selected a field for a forced landing. During the forced landing, he encountered severe wind shear (downdraft) on two occasions. During his landing flare, the airplane's main landing gear impacted a ditch and separated from the fuselage. Photographs of the wreckage indicate that the outboard right wing skin had delaminated from the spar and both wing root areas exhibited visible cracks in the upper wing skin. An aerospace engineer from the National Transportation Safety Board said the cracks above the main spar carry through structure indicate hidden damage in the spar. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector and the pilot examined the airplane in the field. They identified no abnormalities with the engine; the reason for the loss of engine power was not determined. ## Factual narrative On September 2, 2007, at 0915 mountain daylight time, a Werner Vari-Eze homebuilt experimental airplane, N547DB, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Tooele Municipal Airport (KNB), Tooele, Utah. The private pilot, the sole occupant in the airplane, was not injured. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal, cross-country flight that originated from Kanab, Utah, approximately one hour before the accident. No flight plan had been filed. The pilot said that he preflighted his airplane and departed Kanab, with another airplane (a flight of two), at approximately 0818. He said the flight was uneventful but for deviating east of their planned course for thunderstorms. During their descent to Tooele Municipal Airport, they noticed a large thunderstorm over their destination. The other pilot elected to land. He radioed the pilot and said "it was very bumpy, but thought I could handle it." The pilot said he got into severe turbulence on final and elected to go-around. His second approach also terminated with a go-around. During his third approach he had a total loss of engine power. He turned the airplane towards the airfield, but encountered "severe wind shear (down draft)." He picked a field for a forced landing, but he encountered another down draft. During his landing flare, the airplane's main landing gear impacted a ditch and separated from the fuselage. Photographs of the wreckage indicate that the outboard right wing skin had delaminated from the spar and both wing root areas exhibited visible cracks in the upper wing skin. An aerospace engineer from the National Transportation Safety Board said the cracks above the main spar carry through structure indicate hidden damage in the spar. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector and the pilot examined the airplane in the field. They identified no abnormalities with the engine; the reason for the loss of engine power was not determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N547DB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N547DB-2014-09-29), registration cancelled 2014-09-29, S/N 1272001, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Werner Vari-Eze - Registry model: [Werner Paul L RUTAN VARI-EZE](https://openairdocs.org/model/werner-paul-l-rutan-vari-eze) (registry code 056106D) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1272001 - Airframe hours: 583 - Engines: Continental O-200-B 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dana J. Byerley - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special); Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Condition, February 1, 2007 - Departed: KNB, Kanab, UT - Destination: TVY, Tooele, UT - Airport: TVY, Tooele Valley Field, runway 35, 6,100 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 1, 2007; seat: front; flight hours: 252 total, 97 in this make and model, 200 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 340° at 10 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,400 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: SLC, 18 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). - [Incident 20070902017939I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070902017939I), Sep 2, 2007: Amtr VARIEZE, Tooele, UT, Minor damage. (-23) After a x-country flight and arrival at ktvy there were intermittent rain showers in the vicinity of the airport so the pilot circled for a few minutes… 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.