# NTSB WPR09LA380: Davenport DAVE-EZ, N7CE, Santa Monica, CA, August 2, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 2, 2009, 14:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Santa Monica, CA - Coordinates: 34.02, -118.446945 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0200&lon=-118.4469&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report April 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74421 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA380 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74421/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74421 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA380 ## Probable cause The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the forced landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Davenport William A DAV-EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05607O0), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Davenport William A DAV-EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05607O0), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Davenport William A DAV-EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05607O0), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Davenport William A DAV-EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05607O0), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Davenport William A DAV-EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05607O0), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Davenport William A DAV-EZ, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05607O0), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after taking off, the airplane's engine lost power. While attempting to return to the departure runway the engine would intermittently start, then lose power. As the pilot maneuvered the airplane to final in a rapid descent the engine started again, followed by the pilot losing control of the airplane and impacting the runway at about a 45-degree angle in a nose low, left wing down attitude. The airplane came to rest in an upright position. Post-examination of the engine revealed no evidence of a mechanical malfunction that would have prevented the engine from developing power. The reason for the loss of engine power was not determined. ## Factual narrative On August 2, 2009, about 1445 Pacific daylight time, a William A. Davenport DAV-EZ, experimental amateur built airplane, N7CE, sustained substantial damage following an uncontrolled descent and impact with terrain at the Santa Monica Municipal Airport (SMO), Santa Monica, California. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, received serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the planned local flight, which was operating in accordance with 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91. A flight plan was not filed. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. In a written report submitted to the Safety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported that after taking off on Runway 21 and climbing to 1,000 feet above ground level (agl), the engine began to run rough, at which time he notified the control tower of the situation and that he wanted to return to the airport and land. The pilot stated that as he made a left downwind pattern the engine began to run intermittently, followed by it quitting. The pilot reported, "I made a rapid descent while attempting to turn final. As I neared the ground the engine started running again and I made contact with the ground at about a 45-degree angle to the runway. My left wing was down and it collided with the ground. The aircraft slid from the runway off to the right, coming to rest on the taxiway on the north side of the runway." The pilot reported that the airplane's left wing and left landing gear had separated. According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector who responded to the accident site, a witness reported observing the airplane depart Runway 21, followed by hearing the engine "quit." The witness stated that he observed the airplane overhead starting to turn back toward the opposite runway, then attempted to do an "S" turn over the runway and turned south. The witness reported that the airplane's engine quit approximately 4 times while trying to get back to Runway 21, but started again each time the airplane's nose was lowered back to level flight. The FAA inspector reported that an examination of the airframe and engine at the accident site revealed that the engine had remained attached to the airframe and that blade signatures were consistent with the engine being under power at the time of impact. The inspector reported that an examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft rotated freely when turned by hand, both left and right magnetos generated spark on all ignition leads, thumb compression was felt on all cylinders, and that when the carburetor inlet was removed about 1 pint of fuel (automotive fuel) was observed. The inspector further reported that the fuel vents (head/mains LH and RH) and main wing drains were checked with air pressure and were clear of debris and open. The fuel selector was positioned to the header tank. The left and right main tanks were checked with air pressureand found intact. Both left and right fuel tank cap O-rings were observed to be worn. The inspector stated that control continuity was established throughout the airframe from the cockpit controls to all primary flight control surfaces, and that no mechanical anomalies were noted with the airplane. The pilot failed to submit a completed NTSB Form 6120.1, Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report, as requested. Under the supervision of an FAA inspector, the carburetor underwent a bench flow test and subsequent tear down examination at the facilities of Volare Carburetor, Inc., of Gibsonville, North Carolina. The bench flow test revealed no discrepancies with the fuel flow curve. The internal inspection did not show any signs of debris in the fuel bowl or blocked passages in the throttle body or bowl areas of the carburetor. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N7CE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N7CE-2010-01-20), registration cancelled 2010-01-20, S/N 99, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Davenport DAVE-EZ - Registry model: [Davenport William A DAV-EZ](https://openairdocs.org/model/davenport-william-a-dav-ez) (registry code 05607O0) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-235 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-235-series) (registry code 41505, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 99 - Engines: Lycoming O-235 108 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: William A Davenport - Registered owner: William A Davenport - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 1, 2009 - Departed: SMO, Santa Monica, CA - Destination: SMO, Santa Monica, CA - Airport: SMO, Santa Monica Municipal Airport, runway 21, 4,973 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 76; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 9, 2009; seat: front; flight hours: 1,346 total, 483 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 8 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: SMO ## 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 20090802014589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090802014589A), Aug 2, 2009: Amtr DAVEZ, Santa Monica, CA, Destroyed. (-23) On August 2, 2009, about 1445 pacific daylight time, a william a. davenport dav-ez, experimental amateur built airplane. N7CE, sustained substantial… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 29, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74421. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 719 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324680&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 2, .PDF, 89 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324681&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Master.PDF - Record of Report - Engine Examination (item 3, .PDF, 24 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324683&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Report%20-%20Engine%20Examination-Master.PDF - Record of Report - FAA Inspector (item 4, .PDF, 22 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324684&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Report%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Carburetor Inspection Report (item 5, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324685&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Carburetor%20Inspection%20Report-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 6, .PDF, 97 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40324686&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF 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.