# NTSB WPR12LA321: Loflin RV-7A, N404JT, Novato, CA, July 14, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 14, 2012, 16:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Novato, CA - Coordinates: 38.143611, -122.555831 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.1436&lon=-122.5558&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 5, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 84424 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA321 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84424/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84424 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA321 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to control a forward slip to reduce the altitude and airspeed to attain a proper touchdown point during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Loflin John R RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05622UX), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Loflin John R RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=05622UX), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Loflin John R RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05622UX), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability: landing distance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Loflin John R RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030/cases.md?model=05622UX), [All aircraft, 68 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061030/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: [Loflin John R RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05622UX), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380); cases with it: [Loflin John R RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=05622UX), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during the takeoff climb, he reduced the engine power setting and that, shortly after, the engine did not respond, and he noted that the engine manifold pressure was 5 inches. The pilot attempted to troubleshoot the problem by adjusting the throttle and mixture controls without success. He chose to return to the airport for a precautionary landing; however, he was unsure if the airplane could reach the active runway, so he then chose to land on the closest runway with a 6- to 9-knot tailwind. Due to excessive altitude and airspeed for landing on that runway, the pilot did not use flaps and attempted a forward slip. The airspeed continued to increase during the descent, and the airplane landed midway down the runway. The airplane subsequently overran the runway end, traversed a ditch, and came to rest inverted. If the pilot had been able to control the slip to reduce the altitude and airspeed, he might have been able to land the airplane at a point on the runway with adequate distance to stop it. Postaccident engine examination revealed no mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On July 14, 2012, about 1600 Pacific daylight time, an experimental Loflin RV-7A, N404JT, overran the runway during landing at Gnoss Field Airport (DVO), Novato, California, and collided with terrain. The student pilot/owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the firewall, fuselage, and horizontal stabilizer. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight departed DVO about 1530. The pilot reported that he intended to climb to 4,000 feet, fly around the local area, and then head back to DVO to conduct pattern work at the airport. While on climb out, at 3,300 feet, he reduced the engine power setting, and shortly thereafter, he did not feel any "pull" from the engine. The pilot noticed that the engine manifold pressure was at 5 inches. He attempted to troubleshoot the loss of engine power by adjusting the throttle and mixture controls, which were unsuccessful in regaining full power. The pilot subsequently elected to return to the airport for a precautionary landing. The pilot stated that he was unsure if it would be possible to glide to runway 31 so he elected to land on runway 13 with a 6- to 9-knot tailwind. Due to excessive altitude and airspeed, the pilot did not use flaps for landing, and attempted a forward slip; however, the airspeed continued to increase on the descent. The airplane touched down midway down runway 13, and the pilot was unable to stop the airplane before it overran the end of the runway, traversed over a ditch, and came to rest inverted. Postaccident examination of the wreckage did not reveal any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the engine or airplane systems that would have caused a loss of power. Each cylinder produced compression when the propeller was rotated by hand. Examination of the fuel system confirmed fuel delivery to the servo with both electric boost pump and engine driven pump. Fuel delivery to the fuel flow divider and fuel injectors was also confirmed. The ignition system was intact. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N404JT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N404JT-2012-11-05), registration cancelled 2012-11-05, S/N 71352 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LOFLIN RV-7A - Registry model: [Loflin John R RV-7A](https://openairdocs.org/model/loflin-john-r-rv-7a) (registry code 05622UX) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 71352 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 289.5 - Engines: Superior SL-IO-360-B1C 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: John E Adams - Registered owner: John E Adams - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 1, 2012, 290 hours before - Departed: DVO, Novato, CA - Destination: DVO, Novato, CA - Airport: DVO, Gnoss Field Airport, runway 31, 3,300 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: none; student; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 104.5 total, 23.7 in this make and model, 8.8 as pilot in command, 8.3 in the last 90 days, 2.7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.88 inHg - Turbulence: Unknown - Observed at: DVO ## 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 20120714017489A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120714017489A), Jul 14, 2012: Loflin John R RV-7A, Novato, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot stated that after a preflight check/runup he decided to do some upper air and pattern work with the approval of his flt. Instructor. During climbout at… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 19, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84424. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432877&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement to FAA (item 2, .PDF, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432878&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement%20to%20FAA-Master.PDF - Inspection Work Order (item 3, .PDF, 21 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432880&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Inspection%20Work%20Order-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.