Wednesday, March 24, 2010

NTSB accident reports

Here are some new probable cause determinations this week from the National Transportation Safety Board in accidents involving RV airplanes.

NORTH CAROLINA - Probable cause determined in the December 25, 2008 crash of an RV-7A that killed pilot Steve Reamer.

The airplane was in cruise flight at 8,000 feet when the engine began to run rough and the pilot noticed elevated cylinder head and oil temperatures. The pilot subsequently elected to divert to a nearby airport for a precautionary landing. The passenger, who was the pilot's wife, recalled that as the airplane approached the airport it was high and that the pilot performed "S-turns" to descend for landing. Her last memory prior to the accident was of the airplane in a steep left turn, close to the ground. The airplane impacted the ground about 1/4-mile from the approach end of the runway. Examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact failures; the airplane's current logbooks were not recovered. The most recent reported inspection was an annual inspection, which was performed about 19 months and 200 hours prior to the accident. Both the airframe and engine had accumulated approximately 630 total hours.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while on approach for a precautionary landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.


LOUISIANA -- Probable cause determined in the December 2009 incident involving an RV-8 that "swerve(d) to the right and the tailwheel-equipped airplane subsequently ground-looped. The airplane came to rest in an upright position and the pilot and passenger were able to exit the airplane unassisted. An examination of the airplane revealed that the wing spar sustained structural damage. No mechanical malfunction was identified with the airplane's flight control system." Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. No injuries.(more)

Here's the NTSB narrative.

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