Van's RV4 N423WH

Summary

On 7 December 2020 at about 21:28 local time, a Van's RV4 registered N423WH was involved in an accident near Sadler, Texas, United States. One person was on board and 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

7 December 2020 at 21:28

Classification

Accident

Location

Sadler, Texas, United States

Nearest airport

Flying J Airport (15TX)

Coordinates

33.6820, -96.8446

Aircraft

Van's RV4

Registration

N423WH

Category

Airplane

Year built

1997

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sherman → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN21LA078

1 person was seriously injured.

The partial loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was practicing low approaches at a private grass airstrip and elected to land. He determined he would land too far down the runway and initiated a go-around. The engine initially responded, but the engine power then reduced to idle. He “pumped the throttle” two or three times, and the engine did not respond. He subsequently landed on the runway. The airplane overran the end of the runway and nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the rudder, elevator, and left wing. Postaccident engine runs were conducted with the engine attached to the airframe. The engine started and attempts were made to increase engine rpm. The engine would sputter and lose power momentarily each time the throttle was advanced. During one engine run, the engine stopped when the throttle was advanced. During the final engine run, the engine would not shut down normally using the throttle and mixture control, but it shut down when the ignition was turned off. The engine, airframe, and throttle body unit were examined, and no preimpact anomalies were noted. Functional testing of the throttle body unit could not be completed due to a lack of access to appropriate test equipment. The reason for the partial loss of engine power could not be determined based on the available evidence.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.