Amateur-built RV6 accident near Melbourne, Florida, September 11, 2020
On September 11, 2020 at about 1:30 pm local time, a 1995 amateur-built RV6, registered N196DJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Melbourne, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 2020 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Melbourne, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV6 A, built 1995
- Registration
- N196DJ · registry record · serial 21982
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot/owner had recently purchased the experimental amateur-built airplane following a nearly decade long period of disuse. After spending several weeks inspecting the airplane and addressing minor maintenance issues, he flew the airplane for about 6 hours and noted no issues with the engine. Several days before the accident he changed the engine oil and removed about 1/2 teaspoon of carbon deposits and “sludge” from the oil screen. On the day of the accident, the pilot flew the airplane offshore and was performing maneuvers when the engine suddenly lost all power and the propeller stopped rotating. The pilot then performed a forced landing to a beach during which the and the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, resulting in substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that there was substantial oil streaking along the underside of the fuselage and that the propeller was not free to rotate without the application of additional leverage. Additionally, while the quantity of engine oil that remained was insufficient to sustain engine operation, the oil drained from the engine was absent of ferrous metal or other contaminates. Disassembly of the engine revealed that the oil pressure relief valve spring was corroded, pitted, and broken. Additionally, while internal engine components displayed signatures consistent with inadequate lubrication, no failures or damage that would have resulted in sudden engine stoppage were observed.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during maneuvering defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,353 hours in all; 8 in this make and model; 12 in the last 90 days; 8 in the last 30 days; 1,253 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: December 5, 2018
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,490.8 hours
- Last inspection: 100-hour inspection, August 19, 2020; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,650 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-320 SERIES (piston); 1,500 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X59 Valkaria FL at 12:00 pm
- Destination: X59 Valkaria FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 005° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,900 ft; scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 77°F (25°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 12:10 pm from X26, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on September 13, 2022. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum of Record FAA Examiantion | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum of Record Pilot/owner Engine Examination | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Photo Array | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.