Amateur-built RV6 accident near Georgetown, California, February 5, 2001
On February 5, 2001, a amateur-built RV6, registered N1198N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Georgetown, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The total loss of engine power due to fracture and separation of the engine crankshaft.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 5, 2001
- Place
- Georgetown, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV6
- Registration
- N1198N · no longer on the register · serial 20540
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
An off-airport emergency landing followed loss of engine power over mountainous terrain. The pilot reported that the engine of the amateur built aircraft lost power while in cruise flight, and, although there was oil pressure, eventually seized before the landing. During the landing in a forest clear cut area, the landing gear impacted a tree trunk and the aircraft nosed over. Post accident disassembly of the engine revealed that the crankshaft separated at the crankshaft cheek between the number 3 and 4 throws. The owner reported he assembled the (experimental) engine himself using Lycoming parts, and that the engine had accumulated 631 flight hours since assembly. The owner was not a certificated powerplant mechanic.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,600 hours in all; 1,100 in this make and model; 2,600 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 2, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,081 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 27, 2000; 106 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BO8 Silver Springs NV at 11:00 pm
- Destination: MER Atwater CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 320° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 pm from BAB, 30 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N1198N the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.