Amateur-built RV-7 accident near Farmingdale, New Jersey, October 31, 2006
On October 31, 2006 at about 4:55 pm local time, a amateur-built RV-7, registered N916R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Farmingdale, New Jersey (Monmouth Executive Airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power due to a disconnected throttle/power lever linkage. A contributingfactor was the owner/builder's improper installation of the throttle linkage.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 31, 2006 · about 4:55 pm local time
- Place
- Farmingdale, New Jersey · Monmouth Executive Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built RV-7
- Registration
- N916R · registry record · serial 70404
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The builder/owner of the amateur built RV-7 hired the pilot, who was also a designated airworthiness representative, to inspect the airplane and to perform its first test flight. During the preflight inspection, the pilot did not remove the cowling to inspect the engine compartment. The pilot completed the test flight and returned to the airport for landing. On final approach, he adjusted the throttle, but the engine did not respond and he could not increase or decrease power. He then extended the flaps and "slipped" the airplane, but was "going too fast and was too high" to land. He turned the airplane to land on another runway, but during the turn, the airplane "lost altitude" and impacted the ramp area. An inspection of the airplane following the accident revealed that throttle control was disconnected from the fuel servo. The throttle linkage connecting bolt and several washers were found loose inside the engine cowling. The corresponding castellated retaining nut and respective cotter key were not located. During an interview, the owner/builder stated that he "may have forgotten to install the cotter key."
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; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,750 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2
The aircraft
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Superior Air Parts XP-IO-360 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BLM Farmingdale NJ
- Destination: BLM
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N916R 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.