Amateur-built RV-4 accident near Tehachapi, California, August 21, 2002
On August 21, 2002 at about 8:59 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-4, registered N62VR, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tehachapi, California (Tehachapi Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the owner/builder's improperly fabricated and installed fuel line, which cracked at the point of the flare, resulting in a fuel leak and loss of engine power during the takeoff climb. A contributing factor was the soft terrain that jammed the landing gear wheels, nosing over the airplane during the ensuing forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 21, 2002 · about 8:59 pm local time
- Place
- Tehachapi, California · Tehachapi Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-4
- Registration
- N62VR · no longer on the register · serial 1051
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane nosed over during a forced landing in a field following a loss of engine power during the departure climb. The pilot manufactured the airplane, and it was undergoing its first test flight following the issuance of a Special Airworthiness Certificate. Approximately 10 minutes after takeoff the engine lost power. The pilot elected to land in a field. The landing forced debris into the wheel pants, which locked up the wheels. The airplane nosed over coming to rest inverted. Post accident examination of the engine by an FAA inspector revealed a fuel leak around the "B" nut that attached the aluminum fuel line to the throttle body. Removal of the nut and line revealed that the line cracked at the point of the flare. The builder had manufactured and installed this line.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 2,939 hours in all; 12 in this make and model; 66 in the last 90 days; 52 in the last 30 days; 2,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 1, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 0.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 29, 2002; 0.3 hours since
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: TSP Tehachapi CA at 8:55 pm
- Destination: TSP Tehachapi CA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 4,035 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 15 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 8:46 pm from MHV, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 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.
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.