One More Reason As To Why They Call It Flight TESTING

A new RV-9A, still in Phase 1 flight testing, wound up damaged after its ECi O-320 packed up in flight and turned the RV into a glider with only a little warning. Unfortunately, the bird didn't quite make it back to the runway and nosed over after touchdown, doing significant damage to the new aircraft.

NTSB Identification: ERA10LA294
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Tuesday, June 01, 2010 in Ashland, VA
Aircraft: SWANSON RV-9A, registration: N858JK
Injuries: 1 Minor.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On June 1, 2010, about 1255 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Swanson RV-9A, N858JK, was substantially damaged while landing, after experiencing a loss of engine power while on approach to the Hanover County Municipal Airport (OFP), Ashland, Virginia. The certificated private pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.

The pilot/builder reported that he was in the process of conducting the airplane's 40 hour Phase 1 test flights. He departed OFP and landed at the Tappahannock-Essex County Airport (XSA), Tappahannock, Virginia, without incident. Shortly after takeoff from XSA, the airplane experienced a momentary sudden reduction in rpm, and the pilot elected to return to OFP. While en route, the engine experienced additional sudden intermittent power reductions. The airplane was at an altitude of 1,300 feet, approximately 2.5 miles south of OFP, when the engine rpm decreased again. The pilot applied carburetor heat without any affect, and the engine subsequently ceased producing power completely. The pilot attempted to lose altitude and land on runway 34, a 5,402-foot-long, 100-foot-wide, asphalt runway; however, the airplane touched down in the grass north of the runway and nosed over.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and fuselage.

The airplane was equipped with an ECi O-320 series engine, which had been operated for about 25 hours since new. Examination of the airplane and engine by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector was pending recovery from the accident site.

A weather observation taken at OFP, about the time of the accident reported, wind from 210 degrees at 10 knots, with 19 knot gusts; visibility 10 statute miles; scattered clouds at 3,400 feet, temperature 30 degrees Celsius (C), dew point 20 degrees C; altimeter 29.93 inches of mercury.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov