Van's RV-12 N232VA

Summary

On 17 November 2018 at about 18:37 local time, a Van's RV-12 registered N232VA was involved in an accident near Niceville, Florida, 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

17 November 2018 at 18:37

Classification

Accident

Location

Niceville, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Ruckel (FL17)

Coordinates

30.5281, -86.4389

Aircraft

Van's RV-12

Registration

N232VA

Category

Airplane

Year built

2013

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Niceville → Niceville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA19FA048

1 person died.

A partial loss of engine power during initial climb for undetermined reasons, and pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a turn back to the runway, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack, and subsequent aerodynamic stall.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The owner of the airplane, who was a flight instructor, completed a 100-hour inspection on the light sport airplane before another flight instructor departed in the airplane on an instructional flight. That instructor reported that, during takeoff, the engine was not producing full power and experienced a momentary loss of power. He returned to the airport and landed uneventfully. The owner examined the airplane and concluded that the loss of power was likely due to vapor lock. They left the engine cowl open to cool the engine, and about 2 hours later, the owner/flight instructor departed with a student on the accident flight. The student stated that, after takeoff, the engine sputtered and the flight instructor took control. He had no recollection of the accident other than that the altimeter indicated 240 ft. Recorded data revealed that the airplane experienced a significant reduction in engine rpm for unknown reasons about 35 seconds after the takeoff. The throttle was reduced, and the airplane reached a maximum altitude of about 250 ft at an airspeed of 44 knots. Vertical acceleration began to oscillate, the airplane was banking to the left and reached a 68° left wing down bank angle. It then began to descend rapidly; the throttle was advanced and engine speed increased; however, shortly thereafter, the airplane impacted the ground. Examination of the airframe and engine did not reveal any preimpact anomalies. The airplane's flight track and recorded data were consistent with it entering a stall during a left turn back toward the airport.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.