Bollinger RV-6A N272JT

Summary

On 26 July 2003 at about 18:30 local time, a Bollinger RV-6A registered N272JT, operated by L. Thomas Bollinger, was involved in an accident near Wenatchee, Washington, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 July 2003 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Wenatchee, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Pangborn Memorial Airport (EAT)

Coordinates

47.3989, -120.2069

Aircraft

Bollinger RV-6A

Registration

N272JT

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

L. Thomas Bollinger

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Wenatchee → Chelan

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA03LA154

2 people were seriously injured.

Fuel starvation following the separation of a purge valve assembly as a result of the builders failure to re-safety the face retaining/stop screw on the fuel vapor purge valve after the safety wire on the subject screw was removed in order to change the angular mounting position of the valve. Factors include an apple orchard near the edge of the field that pilot was trying to glide to.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The experimental aircraft had just departed runway 30, and was about 400 feet above the ground, when it experienced a complete loss of engine power. The pilot then turned toward an empty field where he was going to attempt an engine-out forced landing, but he was unable to reach the field, and the aircraft impacted an orchard of young apple trees just short of the selected field. A post-accident inspection of the aircraft revealed that the screw holding the valve retaining faceplate on the Airflow Performance Purge Valve Assembly had come loose, allowing the valve mechanism to separate from its housing. It was further determined that the subject retaining screw had not been re-safetied after the builder removed the manufacturer-installed safety wire in order to change the angular configuration of the purge valve/flow divider assembly. A review of the Airflow Performance Installation and Service Manual revealed a narrative section stating that if removal of the valve is necessary, to make sure that the purge valve stop/faceplate screw is re-safetied.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.