# NTSB WPR11FA453: Dacey Venture, N521XD, Reno, NV, September 15, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: September 15, 2011, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Reno, NV - Coordinates: 39.668056, -119.876388 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.6681&lon=-119.8764&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report April 24, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Continental Motors, Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81812 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11FA453 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81812/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81812 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA453 ## Probable cause A total loss of engine power during the initial climb due to the pilot’s premature activation of the engine's anti-detonant injection system. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine fuel and control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057300): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Dacey Michael C VENTURE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057300/cases.md?model=05617SZ), [All aircraft, 49 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057300/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 (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Dacey Michael C VENTURE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05617SZ), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Dacey Michael C VENTURE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05617SZ), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Dacey Michael C VENTURE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05617SZ), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the takeoff initial climb, he reduced the power and retracted the landing gear. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost total power and the pilot performed a forced landing to an open area off the right side of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane landed hard and came to rest upright. The pilot reported that he was going to participate in an air race and that the airplane was equipped with an anti-detonant injection (ADI) system that was designed to inject a methanol and water mixture into the engine at race power settings and was computer controlled. He said that the system was designed to engage when the engine manifold pressure reached a certain level and continue to a race power setting. The pilot stated that he typically armed the ADI system after takeoff during cruise flight; however, he decided to arm the system prior to takeoff. The pilot thought that after the ADI system activated during takeoff, it might have flooded the engine when he reduced engine power to maintain airspeed to allow him to retract the landing gear. Postaccident examination of the fuel injected engine revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On September 15, 2011, about 1600 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Dacey Venture, N521XD, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a total loss of engine power during takeoff initial climb from the Reno/Stead Airport (RTS), Reno, Nevada. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local air race flight that was originating at the time of the accident. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), the pilot reported that during takeoff initial climb, he retracted the landing gear and began his normal climb out. Shortly after, the engine lost power. Following his unsuccessful attempt to troubleshoot the engine at a low altitude, he initiated a forced landing to an open area to the right side of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane landed hard and came to rest upright. The pilot added that he chose to land off the runway due to other aircraft departing behind him and he was unsure of their locations. The pilot further reported that an anti-detonant injection (ADI) system was computer controlled, and had been installed in the airplane for about four years prior. He said that the ADI system was designed to engage when engine manifold pressure passed 40 inches and continued to operate to a race power setting. The pilot stated that he typically armed the ADI system after takeoff during cruise flight, however, decided to arm the system prior to takeoff on the accident flight. The pilot felt that after the ADI system activated during takeoff, it may have flooded the engine when he reduced engine power to maintain airspeed to allow him to retract the landing gear. The ADI system installed on the accident airplane was configured to inject a methanol and water mixture into the engine in order to assist in the prevention of cylinder detonation. Examination of the airplane by the IIC revealed that it had come to rest upright about 500 feet north of runway 26 within the air race course safety area. The left wing was partially separated and the fuselage was buckled aft of the cockpit. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination. Examination of the recovered IO-550-C (EXP) fuel injected engine, serial number 271780, revealed that all engine accessories remained attached to their respective mounts. All six cylinders remained attached to the engine crankcase. The top spark plugs were removed and the internal areas of each cylinder were examined using a lighted borescope. All piston heads and internal areas of the cylinders exhibited no damage and were unremarkable. The engine crankshaft was rotated by hand. Thumb compression was obtained on all six cylinders and mechanical continuity wasestablished throughout the engine and valve train. No evidence of any preimpact mechanical anomalies were observed with the engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N521XD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N521XD), registered now, S/N 226, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DACEY VENTURE - Registry model: [Dacey Michael C VENTURE](https://openairdocs.org/model/dacey-michael-c-venture) (registry code 05617SZ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental TSIO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-tsio-550-series) (registry code 17043, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 226 - Airframe hours: 378 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO-550-C 280 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Air race/show, Part 91 - Operator: Dacey Michael C - Registered owner: Dacey Michael C - Last inspection: Condition, May 2, 2011 - Departed: RTS, Reno, NV - Destination: RTS, Reno, NV - Airport: RTS, Reno/Stead Airport, runway 26, 7,608 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 3,300 total, 1,200 in this make and model, 3,300 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 14 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 20,000 ft broken - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: RNO, 12 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). - [Accident 20110915022499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110915022499A), Sep 15, 2011: Dacey Michael C VENTURE, Reno, NV, Substantial damage. The engine lost power immediately after takeoff from runway 26. The pilot elected to land in the dirt just to the north of the runway. The pilot was… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 23, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81812. 6.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40363885&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40363886&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-Master.PDF - Reports from Parties to the Investigation - Continental Motors Inc. (26 Embedded Photos) (item 3, .PDF, 26 photos, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40363888&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Parties%20to%20the%20Investigation%20-%20Continental%20Motors%20Inc.%20(26%20Embedded%20Photos)-Redacted.PDF - Statement of Party Representatives to NTSB Investigation - Continental Motors Inc. (item 4, .PDF, 78 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40364475&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Statement%20of%20Party%20Representatives%20to%20NTSB%20Investigation%20-%20Continental%20Motors%20Inc.-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: View of the Accident Site and Airplane. (item 5, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40363889&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20the%20Accident%20Site%20and%20Airplane.-Master.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.