# NTSB WPR14LA338: Nelson RV 3M, N43AZ, North Plains, OR, August 10, 2014

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: August 10, 2014, 12:20 local (19:20 UTC)
- Place: North Plains, OR
- Coordinates: 45.602222, -123.02138 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.6022&lon=-123.0214&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: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 89842
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14LA338
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89842/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89842
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA338

## Probable cause

A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons which resulted in a landing gear collapse during the precautionary landing to a field.

## 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: [Nelson Gene R RV-3M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05608F3), [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.

- [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Nelson Gene R RV-3M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05608F3), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Nelson Gene R RV-3M, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05608F3), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, after a thorough preflight inspection, he taxied the airplane to the run-up area with the right fuel tank selected. He then switched to the left fuel tank for the run-up, and all indications were normal. He then switched back to the right fuel tank and took off for the personal cross-country flight. When the airplane reached about 200 ft above ground level, he made a left turn. Subsequently, the engine power reduced to about 1,000 rpm. The pilot chose to initiate a precautionary landing to a field during which the landing gear folded up beneath and into the bottom of the wings that resulted in substantial damaged to both wings and the fuselage. Subsequently the airplane slid about 100 yards before coming to rest. Although only about 1 inch of fuel was found in the left-wing fuel tank, and no fuel was found in the right-wing fuel tank, there was evidence that fuel had drained out of the airplane; thus, fuel exhaustion was unlikely. Based on the available information, the reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined.

## Factual narrative

On August 10, 2014, about 1220 Pacific daylight time, a Nelson RV-3M airplane, N43AZ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near North Plains, Oregon. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that, after a thorough preflight inspection, he taxied the airplane to the run-up area with the right fuel tank selected. He then switched to the left fuel tank for the run-up process, and all indications were normal. He then switched back to the right fuel tank and took off. When the airplane reached about 200 ft above ground level, he made a left turn, and the engine power reduced to about 1,000 rpm. The pilot chose to initiate a precautionary landing to a field during which the landing gear folded up beneath and into the bottom of the wings that resulted in substantial damaged to both wings and the fuselage. Subsequently, the airplane slid about 100 yards before coming to a rest. One inch of fuel was found in the left-wing fuel tank, and no fuel was found in the right-wing fuel tank. Evidence was found that fuel had drained out of the airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N43AZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N43AZ-2018-03-14), registration cancelled 2018-03-14, S/N 11107, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: NELSON RV 3M
- Registry model: [Nelson Gene R RV-3M](https://openairdocs.org/model/nelson-gene-r-rv-3m) (registry code 05608LP) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 11107
- Year built: 1991
- Airframe hours: 1118
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 E2D 160 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, August 5, 2014, 7 hours before
- Departed: 1OR4, North Plains, OR
- Destination: 5S9, Estacada, OR
- Airport: 1OR4, North Plains Gliderport, runway 09, 2,000 × 200 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 10, 2013; seat: single; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 339 total, 30 in this make and model, 273 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observed at: HIO, 5 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 20140810014739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140810014739A), Aug 10, 2014: Nelson Gene R RV-3M, North Plains, OR, Substantial damage. The PIC said he departed North Plains glider port (1OR4) and climbed to 400 feet AGL before starting a left turn. During the left turn, the engine suddenly…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 5, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89842. 5.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 5.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=5315082&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20final_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Record of conversation - FAA regarding on scene (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 54 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=5316510&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=roc%20faa%20on%20scene-Rel.pdf
- On scene photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 610 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11568071&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=on%20scene%20photos-Rel.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.

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