Kai Engstad RV-8A N958RV

Summary

On 2 January 2016 at about 23:30 local time, a Kai Engstad RV-8A registered N958RV was involved in an accident near Salem, Oregon, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 January 2016 at 23:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Salem, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Salem (SLE)

Coordinates

44.9017, -123.0036

Aircraft

Kai Engstad RV-8A

Registration

N958RV

Category

Airplane

Year built

2015

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Salem → Salem

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR16LA049

Nobody was injured.

A total loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, because postaccident examination of the engine and fuel system did not reveal any anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The purpose of the flight was to break in the engine and to evaluate the systems and flight characteristics of the newly-constructed, experimental amateur-built airplane. During the flight, the private pilot observed an elevated cylinder head temperature, which he controlled with airspeed, altitude, fuel mixture and engine power settings. The pilot returned to the airport, and, in the traffic pattern, the engine began to run rough, followed by a total loss of power. The pilot subsequently landed in an open field about 150 feet short of the runway threshold. A postaccident examination of the fuel system and a test run of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the reported loss of engine power was not determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.