DEARMOND CLINT RV-6A

Full Narrative

On May 16, 2010, at 1115 central daylight time, a Dearmond RV-6A single-engine experimental airplane, N1257E, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant and registered owner, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The local flight departed Manitowoc, Wisconsin, at 1020.

According to the pilot, while cruising at 2,900 feet above ground level (agl), he advanced the throttle and heard a "pop" from the engine. The engine lost total power and 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 airport runway in a muddy field. During the landing, the nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane nosed over.

Examination of the airplane by the pilot and Federal Aviation Administration inspectors revealed the vertical stabilizer and rudder were bent.

Detailed 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. The pilot stated that he was unaware of this fuse in the ignition system. The airplane's most recent conditional inspection was completed on June 28, 2009, and the airplane had accumulated 330.8 total hours at the time of the accident.

The pilot's medical certificate was expired and his flight review was not current.