SEA95LA201

NTSB accident investigation · Bristol RV-6 · Grants Pass, OR · September 1, 1995

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
September 1, 1995, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC)
Place
Grants Pass, OR
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N694CABristol RV-6
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 29, 1996
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19950901047389A
Case key
42237

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The NTSB’s determination of the probable cause, and any contributing factors.

a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

Analysis

During the initial climb after takeoff, the aircraft experienced a complete loss of engine power, and the pilot made an emergency landing in a nearby field. The pilot completed a successful touchdown, but the aircraft flipped over in high vegetation during the landing roll. No reason for the power loss could be found. The engine was subsequently reinstalled on an aircraft, and according to the owner, the engine is currently in operation and has functioned without problem.

Factual narrative

On September 1, 1995, approximately 1430 Pacific daylight time (PDT), an experimental Bristol RV-6, N694CA, nosed-over during an emergency landing near Josephine County Airport, Grants Pass, Oregon. The commercial pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The local personal pleasure flight, which had just departed Josephine County Airport, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation.

According to the FAA inspector who responded to the accident, the aircraft lost power shortly after takeoff, and the pilot attempted an emergency landing in a nearby field. During the landing sequence, the aircraft nosed-over in high vegetation. After the accident, the owner inspected the engine, and reported that he did not find any anomalies or reason for the loss of power. The engine has subsequently been reinstalled on an aircraft, and according to the owner, has operated without problem.

As of the date of this report, the NTSB 6120.1/2 has not been received by this office.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of engine powerTakeoff - initial climb
Reason for occurrence undeterminedCause
Forced landingEmergency landing after takeoff
Nose overEmergency landing after takeoff
Terrain condition - high vegetation

Aircraft

Registration
N694CA
Reported as
Bristol RV-6
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
20141
Engine
Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Chief Aircraft, Inc.
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Departed
3S8 · OR
Airport
3S8 · Josephine County Airport

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
41
Certificate
Commercial
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Seat
Left
Flight hours
2,500 total

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Visibility
20 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
93 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.