Bellet James J VANS RV 8 N184SJ

Summary

On 26 September 2017 at about 16:50 local time, a Bellet James J VANS RV 8 registered N184SJ was involved in an accident near Orange, Massachusetts, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 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

26 September 2017 at 16:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Orange, Massachusetts, United States

Nearest airport

Orange Muni (ORE)

Coordinates

42.5700, -72.2886

Aircraft

Bellet James J VANS RV 8

Registration

N184SJ

Category

Airplane

Year built

2003

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Orange → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dawn

NTSB number

GAA17CA557

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to remove the engine cowl plugs during preflight, which resulted in excessive engine cylinder head temperatures during climb and a total loss of engine power.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector reported that, during a telephone conversation, the pilot reported that, during the climb, he noticed the engine cylinder heat temperature gauge exceed 500°F. The pilot added that he immediately turned back to the departure airport, and while in the downwind for the landing runway, the engine lost power. The pilot further added that the airplane immediately lost altitude and cleared a tree line in the path to the runway but then impacted terrain hard in a base-to-final flightpath near the runway threshold. He added that, when he exited the airplane, he observed an engine cowl plug installed on the right side of the engine cowl and removed it. The right wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The FAA inspector reported that he traveled to the accident, and while on-site, he observed the left cowl plug melted onto the engine cylinders. He added that the right cowl plug was found on the ground near the airplane. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Form 6120.1 Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.