An August 1st accident that downed a Lancair IV appears to have been caused by an improperly secured oil line. The accident resulted in serious injuries to the pilot, the sole person onboard.

NTSB Prelim

NTSB Identification: DEN07LA133
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Wednesday, August 01, 2007 in Sylvan Grove, KS
Aircraft: Walker Lancair IV, registration: N7441W
Injuries: 1 Serious.

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 August 1, 2007, approximately 1615 central daylight time, a Walker Lancair IV (file photo of Lancair IV, shown below), N7441W, piloted by an airline transport-certificated pilot, was destroyed when it collided with terrain following a loss 3 miles southeast of Sylvan Grove, Kansas. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot was seriously injured. The cross-country flight originated at Junction City (3JC), Kansas, and was en route to Santa Barbara, California (SBA).

FAA inspectors who examined the airplane at the accident site reported finding evidence of catastrophic engine failure due to oil starvation induced by an unsecured oil line to the wastegate actuator.

Previously; N7441W was involved in a 2003 landing accident in which the aircraft impacted a "runway while performing an S-turn maneuver while landing. The pilot reported he was following another airplane on final approach to runway 17 and had to perform S-turns to increase spacing. He noted that runway 17 was narrower than he was accustomed to, and the perceived aircraft altitude was higher than it actually was. The pilot reported there was no mechanical malfunction or failure." In that accident, the NTSB found that the probable cause appeared to be "runway while performing an S-turn maneuver while landing. The pilot reported he was following another airplane on final approach to runway 17 and had to perform S-turns to increase spacing. He noted that runway 17 was narrower than he was accustomed to, and the perceived aircraft altitude was higher than it actually was. The pilot reported there was no mechanical malfunction or failure."

FMI: www.ntsb.gov