Dacey VENTURE N521XD

Summary

On 15 September 2011 at about 23:00 local time, a Dacey VENTURE registered N521XD, operated by Dacey Michael C, was involved in an accident near Reno, Nevada, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

15 September 2011 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Reno, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

Reno/Stead Airport (RTS)

Coordinates

39.6681, -119.8764

Aircraft

Dacey VENTURE

Registration

N521XD

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Dacey Michael C

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Air Race/Show

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Reno → Reno

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR11FA453

1 person was seriously injured.

A total loss of engine power during the initial climb due to the pilot’s premature activation of the engine's anti-detonant injection system.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that during the takeoff initial climb, he reduced the power and retracted the landing gear. Shortly thereafter, the engine lost total power and the pilot performed a forced landing to an open area off the right side of the runway. Subsequently, the airplane landed hard and came to rest upright. The pilot reported that he was going to participate in an air race and that the airplane was equipped with an anti-detonant injection (ADI) system that was designed to inject a methanol and water mixture into the engine at race power settings and was computer controlled. He said that the system was designed to engage when the engine manifold pressure reached a certain level and continue to a race power setting. The pilot stated that he typically armed the ADI system after takeoff during cruise flight; however, he decided to arm the system prior to takeoff. The pilot thought that after the ADI system activated during takeoff, it might have flooded the engine when he reduced engine power to maintain airspeed to allow him to retract the landing gear. Postaccident examination of the fuel injected engine revealed no preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.