Butcher Russell A RV9A N809RD

Summary

On 27 September 2014 at about 21:00 local time, a Butcher Russell A RV9A registered N809RD was involved in an accident near Shepherd, Texas, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, 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

27 September 2014 at 21:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Shepherd, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Lake Water Wheel (XS99)

Coordinates

30.4711, -94.9128

Aircraft

Butcher Russell A RV9A

Registration

N809RD

Category

Airplane

Year built

2008

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Shepherd → Shepherd

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN14LA527

1 person died.

The pilot’s loss of airplane control during the landing approach after a loss of engine power, which led to a collision with trees and terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s inadequate preflight fuel planning, which led to fuel exhaustion and the subsequent loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot had conducted a 1-hour personal flight and was attempting to land the experimental amateur-built airplane. The airplane impacted trees and terrain short of the intended runway. Postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. Examination of the airplane wreckage revealed that the airplane was in an inverted, level attitude at the time of impact. The fuel tanks were ruptured; however, no evidence of fuel spillage or fuel blighting to surrounding vegetation was noted during the on-scene examination, and no fuel was found in the tanks. The departure airport did not have fueling services available at the time of the accident. Based on the available evidence, it is likely that the pilot did not ensure that the gyroplane had adequate fuel for the flight, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total loss of engine power. Further, it is likely that, while the pilot was attempting to maintain altitude to clear the trees at the approach end of the runway after the loss of engine power, he lost control of the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.