# NTSB WPR25LA055: Vans RV14, N144SD, Palmdale, CA, December 5, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: December 5, 2024, 13:03 local (21:03 UTC)
- Place: Palmdale, CA
- Coordinates: 34.625507, -117.96261
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.6255&lon=-117.9626&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: 1 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 199396
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA055
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199396/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA055

## Preliminary report

On December 15, 2024, about 1303 pacific standard time, an experimental amateur built Vans RV-14, N144SD, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Palmdale, California. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that he was in cruise flight at 8,500 ft mean sea level (msl) about 45 minutes after departure when the engine began to “shudder violently,” and lost total power. The pilot attempted to restart the engine but was unsuccessful and declared an emergency with air traffic control and initiated a forced landing to an open area in the desert. During the landing roll, the airplane struck vegetation, and the landing gear collapsed. The responding Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector reported that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward fuselage and left wing. The fuel tanks remained intact and contained an adequate quantity of fuel. The engine oil dipstick indicated adequate oil, and the exterior of the engine did not reveal any signs of catastrophic failure. The airplane was retained for further examination.

## 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: [Syrus Devers RV-14A (VANS RV), 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05639BW), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N144SD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N144SD), registered now, S/N 140196, built 2020 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: VANS RV14 (A)
- Registry model: [Syrus Devers RV-14A (VANS RV)](https://openairdocs.org/model/syrus-devers-rv-14a-vans-rv) (registry code 05639BW) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Barrett IO-390-X](https://openairdocs.org/engine/barrett-io-390-x) (registry code 09003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 140196
- Year built: 2020
- Airframe hours: 445
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, April 15, 2024
- Departed: KUDD, BERMUDA DUNES, CA
- Destination: KCCR, Concord, CA
- Equipment: Auto-pilot, Data recorder, Angle of attack indicator, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 30.17 inHg
- Observed at: KPMD, 6 nm away
- METAR: KPMD 052053Z 10SM CLR 21/M08 A3017 RMK AO2 SLP208 T02061078 58023 $

## 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 20241205018739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241205018739A), Dec 5, 2024: Syrus Devers RV-14A (VANS RV), Palmdale, CA, Substantial damage. At 0850 feet rouglhy 5 miles east of Palmdale airport pmd, pilot reports 5 seconds of engine shutter followed by engine seize. Pilot attempted restart…

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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