Browns VANS RV-7A N799WB

Summary

On 16 April 2007 at about 22:30 local time, a Browns VANS RV-7A registered N799WB was involved in an accident near Gardner, Illinois, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 April 2007 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Gardner, Illinois, United States

Coordinates

41.2989, -88.4997

Aircraft

Browns VANS RV-7A

Registration

N799WB

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Romeoville → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI07LA106

1 person had minor injuries.

Engine failure during cruise flight for undetermined reasons. A factor was the rough/uneven terrain

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was substantially damaged during a forced landing following a loss of engine power. According to the pilot, the engine "suddenly lost power and started running rough" while in cruise flight at 6,500 feet mean sea level. The pilot set the propeller to low pitch and manipulated the engine throttle without any noticeable effect on engine operation. The engine continued to run "rough" after he switched fuel tanks. The pilot elected to perform an off-field landing on a "narrow gravel lane with rough surface and significant potholes." During the landing rollout the airplane departed off the left side of the road and nosed over in the adjacent ditch. During subsequent testing, the engine demonstrated normal operation throughout its entire rpm/horsepower range. Engine rpm was cycled rapidly between flight idle and maximum continuous rpm several times without any hesitation in engine operation. No anomalies were noted during the engine test run that would have prevented its normal operation. At departure, the airplane reportedly had 38 gallons of 100 low lead aviation fuel onboard. Examination of the wreckage confirmed there was sufficient fuel available for engine operation, and there was fuel found in the line from the fuselage to the mechanical fuel pump.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.