Undetermined · NTSB CEN19FA144
Vans RV6 — Chillicothe, OH
| Date | May 18, 2019 |
| Location | Chillicothe, OH |
| Aircraft | Vans RV6 (amateur-built) |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Enroute Unknown or undetermined |
| Pilot age | 90 |
| Pilot total time | 1,967 hrs · Experienced |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Aircraft-Aircraft power plant-Engine (reciprocating)-(general)-Malfunction
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-(general)-Not attained/maintained
- Not determined-Not determined-(general)-(general)-Unknown/Not determined - C
- Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Tree(s)-Contributed to outcome
What happened
The pilot departed an experimental, amateur-built airplane on a cross-country flight in day visual meteorological conditions. A witness near the accident site said the airplane "engine slowed or stalled," then the engine "refired" and subsequently "stalled" Again. He then observed the airplane in a left bank turn and the engine sounded "wide open" until the airplane impacted trees and terrain.
Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any preimpact mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The airplane's full authority digital engine control (FADEC) system components were operational.
Although toxicology testing detected ethanol, its presence could be attributed to postmortem production.
During a flight review a few weeks before the accident, the pilot told a flight instructor that he previously had trouble with the airplane's ignition system. The flight instructor reported that there were no ignition issues during the flight review.
Based on the available information, it is likely that the airplane had intermittent engine issues, which could not be replicated during postaccident examination and testing. When the engine lost power, the pilot did not maintain airplane control and impacted trees and terrain.