Cortland County Arpt Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Cortland, New York 13045
Sunday, August 25, 2013 15:22 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was also the owner/builder of the amateur-built experimental airplane. He had removed and reinstalled the engine after the airplane experienced a propeller strike. The accident flight was the first flight after the engine was reinstalled. According to the pilot, he performed high-speed taxi runs, followed by a normal takeoff. After takeoff, the pilot climbed to altitude and confirmed the flight controls were functioning properly. He then entered the airport traffic pattern and on his first attempt to land, he performed a go-around. On his second attempt to land, the pilot reported that everything seemed normal, but he was fast on the approach and decided to add power for another go-around. The engine didn’t respond, so he proceeded straight ahead and secured the engine. The airplane landed past the departure end of the runway in a grassy area. The nose wheel dug into the ground and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. Postaccident examination by Federal Aviation Administration Inspectors revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and the castle nut that attached the throttle arm to the fuel servo was missing a cotter pin.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A partial loss of engine power during go-around due to incorrect maintenance of the fuel system by the pilot/builder.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/25/2013
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1522
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Cortland
Event State NEW YORK
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 13045
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 423533N
Event Location Longitude 0761253W
Event Location Airport CORTLAND COUNTY ARPT
Event Location Nearest Airport ID N03
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 1198
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1456 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 240
Weather Observation Facility ID ITH
Elevation of weather observation facility 1099
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 12
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
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) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 12
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.32
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KITH 251856Z 21007KT 10SM SCT055 26/12 A3032
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 31985
NTSB Notification Source FAA EROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 4 2013 1:10PM
User who most recently changed record gots
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N411AK
NTSB Number ERA13CA375
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name MARK C PAULS
Aircraft Model RV-7A
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 71945
Certified Max Gross Weight 1800
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 Jul 6 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 0
Airframe Hours 83
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name MARK C PAULS
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City LA FAYETTE
Aircraft Owner State NY
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 13084-3319
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name MARK C PAULS
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City LA FAYETTE
Operator State NY
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 13084-3319
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code N03
Departure City Cortland
Departure State NY
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1430
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code N03
Destination City Cortland
Destination State NY
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 4 2013 1:10PM
User who most recently changed record gots
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 24
Runway Length 3400
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --