Dansville Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dansville, New York 14437
Wednesday, October 8, 1997 17:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot fueled the airplane the day prior, and stated that there should have been about 2.5 hours of fuel remaining. The next day, he flew for 20 minutes from one airport to another. On the ground for 5 minutes, he taxied to the runway, performed an engine run-up, and did not recalled any abnormalities. During the takeoff, at about 300 feet AGL, the engine lost power. The pilot attempted a right 180 degree turn, and the airplane impacted the ground in a 20 degree nose down attitude. The main landing gear collapsed aft, and the airplane slide to a stop in about 200 feet. Fuel was found in the carburetor bowl and the fuel line to the engine driven pump. No fuel was found in the line from the engine driven pump to the carburetor. Upon disassembly, the engine driven fuel pump incurred an internal mechanical failure.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The internal mechanical failure of the engine driven fuel pump which resulted in a loss of engine power.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/8/1997
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1730
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City DANSVILLE
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 14437
Event Date Year 1997
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport DANSVILLE AIRPORT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DSV
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 662
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 7500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 15
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1841
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Oct 8 1997 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2240
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 12:37PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N17PQ
NTSB Number IAD98LA004
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Ford
Aircraft Model RV-4
Aircraft Series Identifier RV-4
Aircraft Serial Number 1611
Certified Max Gross Weight 1500
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Oct 1 1997 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 8
Airframe Hours 8
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name FREDERICK FORD
Aircraft Owner Street Address 7731 LAKE ROAD
Aircraft Owner City SODUS POINT
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 14555
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code DSV
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1730
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 3G7
Destination City WILLIAMSON-SODU
Destination State NY
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 14
Runway Length 3635
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --