# NTSB WPR13LA161: Owens Velocity 173, N33SV, Maricopa, AZ, March 25, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 25, 2013, 13:00 local (20:00 UTC) - Place: Maricopa, AZ - Coordinates: 33.044166, -111.983612 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0442&lon=-111.9836&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 3 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 19, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 86501 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR13LA161 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86501/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86501 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13LA161 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the throttle body revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## 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: [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, after about 30 minutes in cruise flight, the engine began to run roughly, followed by a loss of power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine twice but was unsuccessful. He then initiated an emergency landing on a dirt road. During the landing roll, the left wing struck an irrigation pipe, which resulted in the airplane departing the road and coming to rest in a field. A postaccident engine examination revealed that the engine was modified with an Ellison throttle body under an experimental, amateur-built airworthiness certificate. Attempts to run the engine with the Ellison throttle body installed were unsuccessful. Once the throttle body was removed, the engine successfully started. An examination and teardown of the throttle body did not reveal any anomalies that would have caused the throttle body to malfunction. ## Factual narrative On March 25, 2013, about 1300 mountain standard time, an experimental Owens Velocity 173 airplane, N33SV, experienced a loss of engine power during cruise flight and the pilot made a forced landing on a dirt road near Maricopa, Arizona. The pilot/owner operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot and two passengers were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local area flight that departed the Pegasus Airpark, Queen Creek, Arizona, about 1230. No flight plan had been filed.The pilot reported that the airplane was airborne for about 30 minutes when the engine began to run rough followed by a loss power. He attempted twice to restart the engine, but was unsuccessful. The pilot identified a dirt road as a landing spot and performed an emergency landing. During the landing rollout the airplane struck an irrigation pipe, departed the road, and came to rest in an open field. Postaccident examination revealed that the fuel tanks contained 20 gallons of fuel; additionally, the engine controls and fuel selector continuity were established. The ignition system, primary fuel system, and drive train were examined and found to be functioning normally. After several unsuccessful attempts were made to start the engine with the modified Ellison throttle body attached, the throttle body was then removed and the engine started successfully. An examination of the throttle body revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: N33SV (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: OWENS VELOCITY 173 - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: DMO 209 - Airframe hours: 450 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-EXP 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Christopher D Mager - Registered owner: Christopher D Mager - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 26, 2012 - Departed: 5AZ3, Queen Creek, AZ - Destination: 5AZ3, Queen Creek, AZ - Airport: 5AZ3, Pegasus Airpark - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 31, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 23,000 total, 210 in this make and model, 11,000 as pilot in command, 135 in the last 90 days, 45 in the last 30 days, 0.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: CGZ, 21 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 20130325004999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130325004999A), Mar 25, 2013: Owens R Wayne VELOCITY 173, Maricopa, AZ, Substantial damage. On March 25, 2013 at approximately 12:00 pm local time N33SV, an experimental amateur- built aircraft, velocity 173, departed from pegasus (5AZ3) airpark for… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 15, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86501. 1.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431821&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - Eric Hasslacher (FAA) (item 2, .PDF, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40431822&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Eric%20Hasslacher%20(FAA)-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.