Accident Van's RV-4 N835B,
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ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 364762
 
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Date:Sunday 4 August 1991
Time:19:20 LT
Type:Silhouette image of generic RV4 model; specific model in this crash may look slightly different    
Van's RV-4
Owner/operator:Private
Registration: N835B
MSN: 1171
Year of manufacture:1991
Engine model:LYCOMING O-320-B3B
Fatalities:Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 2
Aircraft damage: Substantial
Category:Accident
Location:Napa, CA -   United States of America
Phase: En route
Nature:Private
Departure airport:
Destination airport:
Investigating agency: NTSB
Confidence Rating: Accident investigation report completed and information captured
Narrative:
THE PILOT SAID THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN CRUISE FLIGHT WHEN THE OIL PRESSURE SUDDENLY DROPPED. THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN ROUGH, THEN SEIZED ALTOGETHER. THE AIRCRAFT WAS CLOSE TO A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP AND THE PILOT WAS ATTEMPTING A FORCED LANDING ON THE AIRSTRIP. THE AIRCRAFT LANDED SHORT OF THE RUNWAY IN A GRAPE VINEYARD. RESPONDING SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES REPORTED THAT THE ENTIRE BELLY OF THE AIRCRAFT WAS HEAVILY COATED WITH OIL. FAA AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTORS EXAMINED THE AIRCRAFT AND FOUND THAT AN AUTOMOTIVE FRAM OIL FILTER WAS INSTALLED ON THE ENGINE, WITH SOME PLUMBING CHANGES. THE INSPECTOR STATED THAT THE OIL FILTER FAILED TO BYPASS OIL. THE OUTSIDE CASE OF THE FILTER WAS FOUND TO HAVE EXPANDED TO ABOUT 125 PERCENT OF NORMAL SIZE AND WAS LEAKING OIL.

Probable Cause: THE INSTALLATION OF A NON COMPATIABLE OIL FILTER AND SYSTEM PLUMBING CHANGES WHICH INDUCED THE OIL EXHAUSTION EVENT RESULTING IN A FORCED LANDING AND IN FLIGHT COLLISION WITH TERRAIN.

Accident investigation:
cover
  
Investigating agency: NTSB
Report number: LAX91LA347
Status: Investigation completed
Duration: 1 year and 9 months
Download report: Final report

Sources:

NTSB LAX91LA347

History of this aircraft

Other occurrences involving this aircraft
4 January 2018 N83SB Private 0 Montrose, CO sub

Location

Revision history:

Date/timeContributorUpdates
19-Mar-2024 18:31 ASN Update Bot Added

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