Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sheboygan, Wisconsin 53085
Sunday, May 16, 2010 11:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

While cruising at 2,900 feet above ground level, the pilot advanced the throttle and heard a "pop" from the engine, which then lost total power before the propeller stopped. The pilot's engine restart was unsuccessful, and he attempted to land at the nearest airport. The airplane landed short of the runway in a muddy field. During the landing, the nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over, resulting in damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed that a 7.5 amp ignition fuse, located in the empennage of the airplane, had failed during the flight, which resulted in the loss of ignition and the inability to restart the engine.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The loss of engine power due to a fuse failure in the ignition system.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/16/2010
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1115
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Sheboygan
Event State WISCONSIN
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 53085
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 434611N
Event Location Longitude 0875106W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 70
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27143
NTSB Notification Source FAA Operations Center
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 9 2010 11:22AM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1257E
NTSB Number CEN10LA253
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 DEARMOND CLINT
Aircraft Model RV-6A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 60369
Certified Max Gross Weight 1650
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats 2
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Jun 28 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 330.8
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91
Aircraft Owner Name WUNSCH DONALD L
Aircraft Owner Street Address 21419 POPLAR GROVE RD
Aircraft Owner City REEDSVILLE
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 54230-9229
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name WUNSCH DONALD L
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 21419 POPLAR GROVE RD
Operator City REEDSVILLE
Operator State WI
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 54230-9229
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 No
Departure Airport Code MTW
Departure City Manitowoc
Departure State WI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1020
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code MTW
Destination City Manitowoc
Destination State WI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 1 2010 2:24PM
User who most recently changed record saua
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --