# NTSB WPR19LA023: Vans RV7A, N5433T, Ramona, CA, November 10, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 10, 2018, 07:52 local (15:52 UTC) - Place: Ramona, CA - Coordinates: 33.040832, -116.925552 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.0408&lon=-116.9256&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: 2 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): 98630 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA023 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98630/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98630 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA023 ## Probable cause The partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information. ## 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: [Ferreira David P/Lee Daniel J VANS RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=056364K), [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: [Ferreira David P/Lee Daniel J VANS RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=056364K), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Ferreira David P/Lee Daniel J VANS RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=056364K), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Ferreira David P/Lee Daniel J VANS RV-7A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056364K), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During takeoff on the first flight since the airplane was built, the engine began to lose power. The passenger conducted a series of troubleshooting steps while the pilot flew the airplane. Unable to restore engine power, the pilot landed in a rock-covered field. The airplane came to rest upright; a postimpact fire ensued and consumed most of the airplane. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any preexisting mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane was equipped with an electric constant speed propeller, which was controlled by an electric propeller controller. Due to the postimpact fire damage sustained to the airplane, functional testing of the propeller control unit could not be performed. Due to the lack of available information, the reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined. ## Factual narrative On November 10, 2018, about 0752 Pacific standard time, an experimental amateur-built Vans RV-7A airplane, N5433T, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident in Ramona, California. The private pilot (flying pilot) and pilot-rated passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The passenger reported that they had just completed the build of the airplane, and that the pilot flying was going to conduct the initial flight due to the amount of flight time he had accumulated in the make and model of the airplane. They performed an engine runup at the hold-short line for runway 27 and noted nothing abnormal. The passenger stated that the flying pilot advanced the throttle for takeoff, and the engine had plenty of power during the takeoff roll. During climb out, about 500 ft above the ground, the engine began to gradually lose power. The passenger started to troubleshoot the loss of power; he verified the fuel pumps and ignition were on, the fullest fuel tank was selected, fuel pressure and air/fuel ratio gauges indicated “in the green,” the propeller rpm was 2,700, and the propeller was in auto mode. As the passenger conducted a second check, he motioned for the pilot to take the propeller controller out of auto and put it in manual mode. During the landing roll, the right main landing gear separated after it struck a rock. As the airplane came to rest upright, a postimpact fire ensued, which consumed the inboard sections of both wings and the fuselage. The airplane was recovered to a secure location for further examination. The airplane was equipped with a 6-cylinder Subaru engine and gear reduction unit, which powered an electric, constant-speed MT propeller through an electric propeller control unit. The postaccident engine and gearbox examination was performed by one of the co-builders of the airplane under the supervision of a Federal Aviation Administration inspector. The engine exhibited varying degrees of thermal damage. No scoring on the cylinder walls or piston damage was observed. The oil filler cap was destroyed by fire, and the internal positions of the engine and cylinders exhibited corrosion. The reduction gearbox rotated freely and exhibited evidence of a lubricant leak at the rear input shaft seal. The gearbox was disassembled, and no evidence of any internal failure was observed. The electric propeller control unit was destroyed by fire, which precluded functional testing of the unit. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5433T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5433T-2021-02-02), registration cancelled 2021-02-02, S/N 70675, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Vans RV7A - Registry model: [Ferreira David P/Lee Daniel J VANS RV-7A](https://openairdocs.org/model/ferreira-david-p-lee-daniel-j-vans-rv-7a) (registry code 056364K) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Subaru ALL MDLS A/B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/subaru-all-mdls-a-b) (registry code 59050, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 70675 - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 0 - Engines: Subaru H6 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 3, 2018, 0 hours before - Departed: RNM, Ramona, CA - Destination: RNM, Ramona, CA - Airport: RNM, Ramona, runway 27, 5,001 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Onboard weather, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; last flight review December 5, 2016; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,040 total, 721 in this make and model, 1,971 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 19 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: KRNM, 1 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 20181110022509A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20181110022509A), Nov 10, 2018: Ferreira David P/Lee Daniel J VANS RV-7A, Ramona, CA, Destroyed. Shortly after take off during the climb the engine RPM did not exceed 2200 RPM and the aircraft would no longer climb. Pilot started to trouble shoot the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 16, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98630. 769 KB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 385 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8661078&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20report%20001%20(002)_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - passenger (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 109 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13421168&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20PAssenger-Rel.pdf - Engine examination information (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 174 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8661532&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=enginew%20exam%20by%20owner_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 101 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=8660540&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=wreckage_releasedocs%20(2)_Redacted-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. --- 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.