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August 28, 2001 · Bradley Rans S-7 · N91642

Fruita, CO

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
August 28, 2001
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Fruita, CO
Aircraft
Bradley Rans S-7
Tail Number
N91642
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
DEN01LA153

Shortly after takeoff (approximately 30 feet above the ground), the aircraft began to lose power. The pilot said the aircraft lost the ability to climb at about 60 feet above ground level. Due to a barn in his flight path, he turned the airplane toward an alfalfa field to make an emergency landing. The engine continued to loose power and attempts to regain engine power failed. The airplane's speed began to decrease and approach a stall. The airplane contacted the ground with its right wing first, then rotated until its heading was 180 degrees from its flight path, subsequently coming to rest against a fence. Postaccident examination of the engine by the pilot revealed that both piston rings had failed. The owner reported that the engine had approximately 4 hours of flight operation time. .

NTSB Probable Cause

loss of engine power due to both piston rings failing, and the subsequent inadvertent stall/spin during the attempted forced landing. A contributing factor was the lack of suitable terrain for a forced landing.

Full Narrative

On August 28, 2001, at approximately 1340 mountain daylight time, a Bradley Rans S-7 homebuilt airplane, N91642, was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Fruita, Colorado. The airline transport pilot, the sole occupant aboard the airplane, was not injured. A private individual was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local test flight that was originating at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed. According to the pilot, shortly after takeoff (approximately 30 feet above the ground), the engine began to lose power. He said the airplane lost the ability to climb at about 60 feet above ground level. The pilot said there was a fence and a barn directly in his flight path; he turned the aircraft left toward an alfalfa field to make an emergency landing. The engine continued to lose power and attempts to regain engine power failed. The airplane started to lose airspeed until the onset of a stall. The pilot reduced the airplane's angle of attack so that the airplane would not stall. The airplane contacted the ground with its right wing first, then rotated until its heading was 180 degrees from its flight path, subsequently coming to rest against a fence. The airplane's engine mount, both wings, and the horizontal stabilizer were bent, and the fuselage was wrinkled. Postaccident examination of the two cylinder engine by the pilot revealed that both piston rings had failed. The owner reported that the engine had approximately 4 hours of flight operation time.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time13:40 MDT
Nearest AirportPrivate Airport (0nm NE)
Runway09
Runway Length1200 ft
Runway Width35 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Flight Plan ActivatedNo
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftBradley Rans S-7
Tail NumberN91642
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax · 582 · Reciprocating · 65
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 53 · First Class · None

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind270° @ 7 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point43 C
Altimeter29.96 inHg
Observation Time19:56
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data