Van's RV7 N514BS

Summary

On 26 July 2020 at about 17:10 local time, a Van's RV7 registered N514BS was involved in an accident near Henefer, Utah, United States. One person was on board and one 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 July 2020 at 17:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Henefer, Utah, United States

Coordinates

40.9867, -111.5297

Aircraft

Van's RV7

Registration

N514BS

Category

Airplane

Year built

2005

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ogden → Heber City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR20LA239

1 person had minor injuries.

The total loss of engine power due to the separation of the idler gear shaft bolts as a result of improper installation, which allowed for the idler gear to become disengaged.

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 flight, he switched fuel tanks and shortly after, the engine began to sputter. The pilot turned on the electric fuel boost pump and switched the fuel selector valve to the original position, and the engine began to operate normally. However, a short time later, the engine quit, and despite his attempts, he was unable to restore engine power. The pilot initiated a forced landing to a nearby road during which the left wing struck the ground, the airplane veered to the left, exited the surface of the road, and impacted rising terrain. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft idler gear shaft was separated from its mount and the idler gear was disengaged from the crankshaft and camshaft. Fretting was observed within the area of the idler gear shaft mount. The idler gear shaft bolts were separated. No evidence of a locking plate or safety wire was observed. It’s likely that idler gear bolts had become loose due to improper installation, which allowed the idler gear shaft to shift and the idler gear to become disengaged from the crankshaft and camshaft, which would result in a loss of engine power.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.