# NTSB WPR21LA271: Vans RV6, N468AC, Riverside, CA, July 15, 2021

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 15, 2021, 09:50 local (16:50 UTC)
- Place: Riverside, CA · short of the runway in an open field
- Coordinates: 33.951889, -117.44511 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9519&lon=-117.4451&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 103486
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA271
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103486/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103486
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA271

## Probable cause

A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined from available evidence.

## 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; cases with it: [Checca A R/Checca L A RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05617SJ), [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.

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Checca A R/Checca L A RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05617SJ), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Checca A R/Checca L A RV6A, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05617SJ), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the experimental, amateur built airplane was undergoing an airplane checkout and flight review. The flight instructor directed the pilot to perform a power-on stall. During the maneuver, the airplane’s engine lost total power. The pilot immediately switched fuel tanks and was able to restart the engine and elected to return to the airport. The flight instructor assumed control of the airplane for the return flight. While the airplane was on short final, the engine lost total power again. The airplane subsequently impacted terrain short of the runway and came to rest inverted. Postaccident examination of the airplane found a blue liquid, consistent with 100 low lead fuel, draining from the lower cowling. Several gallons of fuel were drained from the fuel tanks. During the engine examination, the engine was started and ran uneventfully for several minutes at various power settings, including full power. Further examination of the engine revealed no evidence of any pre existing mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation of the engine.

## Factual narrative

On July 15, 2021, about 0850 Pacific daylight time, an experimental amateur built RV6A, N468AC, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Riverside Municipal Airport (RAL), Riverside, California. The flight instructor sustained a serious injury, and the pilot sustained a minor injury. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to conduct an airplane checkout and flight review. During a power-on stall, the engine stopped; the pilot stated that he immediately switched fuel tanks, and the engine restarted. The pilot suggested that the airplane return to RAL, and the flight instructor told him to obtain a landing clearance. The flight instructor assumed control of the airplane because the pilot had not landed the airplane before. The tower controller instructed the pilots to extend the downwind leg for landing traffic. While on final approach to land on runway 27, the engine stopped again. According to the pilot, the flight instructor thought that the airplane was not going to reach the runway. The airplane subsequently impacted terrain short of the runway and came to rest inverted on a northern heading 450 ft from the threshold of the runway. Postaccident examination of the airplane found a blue liquid, consistent with 100 low-lead fuel, draining from the lower cowling near the quick drain. About 6-7 gallons of fuel were drained from the left fuel tank, and about 16-17 gallons of fuel was drained from the right fuel tank. The engine was started and ran uneventfully for several minutes at various power settings, including full power. No evidence of any pre existing mechanical malfunction or failure was revealed that would have precluded normal operation of the engine.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N468AC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N468AC-2021-11-16), registration cancelled 2021-11-16, S/N 60573 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VANS RV6 (A)
- Registry model: [Checca A R/Checca L A RV6A](https://openairdocs.org/model/checca-a-r-checca-l-a-rv6a) (registry code 05617SJ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360-A1A](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1a) (registry code 41594, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 60573
- Year built: 2004
- Airframe hours: 1200
- Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, July 1, 2021
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: RAL, Riverside Muni, runway 09/27, 5,401 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Satellite tracking device, Electronic primary flight display, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 74; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 15, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,096 total, 7 in this make and model
- Flight instructor; age 71; injuries: serious; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, unknown; last flight review March 1, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 8,056 total, 30 in this make and model, 8,056 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 26 °F, dew point 14 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: RAL

## 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 20210715009049A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210715009049A), Jul 15, 2021: Checca A R/Checca L A RV6A, Riverside, CA, Substantial damage. On July 15, 2021 approximately 1950 zulu time N468AC, an experimental RV6 aircraft entered left base at Riverside airport for runway 27 and was cleared to…

## Docket (5 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 10, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103486. 8.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15100815&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120%20N468AC%2028%20Mar%202022_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Excerpt aircraft logbooks - condition inspection (item 2, PDF, 9 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15104368&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=RV%206,%20recent%20condition%20inspection._Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15261748&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Engine examination (NTSB) (item 4, PDF, 9 pages, 555 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15394996&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Engine%20Exam%20Report-Rel.pdf
- Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15104195&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=74645%20NTSB%20Release%20of%20Wreckage%20WPR21LA271%20_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.

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