History of Flight
On August 27, 2009, about 1011 Pacific daylight time, a Taplin RV-6 experimental, amateur-built airplane, N43521, was substantially damaged following a loss of control and impact with terrain at Orland Haigh Airport (O37), Orland, California. The flight instructor (CFI), occupying the right pilot seat, and the commercial pilot undergoing instruction, who was the owner and occupied the left pilot seat, were killed. The local instructional flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91, with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight departed Chico Municipal Airport (CIC), Chico, California, about 0950.
According to a student of the CFI, the CFI stated just before the flight that she would conduct a biennial flight review with the accident pilot. Records indicated the CFI had conducted two previous biennial flight reviews with the accident pilot: April 19, 2004, and February 17, 2007.
A witness about 1,850 feet northeast of the accident site observed the airplane heading southeast at about 350 feet. The witness reported: "The plane began to execute a right hand turn, and then rolled over so the top of the plane was facing east and the nose was pointing down. I then saw the nose barely try to pull up, and I waited for it to come up, but it never did."
Another witness heard the crash as he entered his airport office, but heard no engine noise prior. He drove to the site, noting a strong odor of avgas. He observed the left-seat pilot with shoulder harness on.
A third witness, walking southbound on the ramp, heard "a loud slapping explosion" to the north and saw no aircraft approaching or departing. He smelled fuel and saw a pool forming under the left cabin.
Personnel Information
The CFI, age 56, held an airline transport pilot certificate with multiengine land rating, commercial pilot with single-engine land and sea ratings, and flight instructor certificates for single/multiengine and instrument. She had type ratings for CE-500 and CE-650. She held a second-class medical issued May 27, 2009, with no limitations. She reported 6,000 total flight hours, 480 in the previous 6 months.
The commercial pilot, age 70, held a commercial pilot certificate with single-engine land and instrument ratings. He held a second-class medical issued June 15, 2009, with no limitations. His logbook showed 1,175 total hours, 79 in make/model, 3 in the preceding 90 days, and none in the previous 24 hours. His most recent biennial flight review was February 17, 2007.
Aircraft Information
The 1992-model Taplin RV-6, serial number 162, was a low-wing, fixed conventional gear experimental amateur-built airplane. It was powered by a four-cylinder Lycoming O-320 engine rated at 150 horsepower, equipped with a two-bladed Hartzell propeller.
Airframe and engine logbooks showed a conditional inspection on June 17, 2009, at tach time 193.6 hours. At inspection, engine total time was 4,183.6 hours, time since overhaul 1,747.9 hours, and airframe total time 441 hours.
Fueling
According to a family member, the pilot last fueled the airplane on August 3, 2009, at Oroville Municipal Airport (OVE), California, with 32.9 gallons of 100LL Avgas. After fueling, the pilot flew back to CIC (about 21 nm) and parked it in his hangar. The airplane was not flown again until the accident day.
Meteorological Information
At 0953, weather at OVE (about 28 nm southeast) reported wind 260° at 3 knots, visibility 40 miles, sky clear, temperature 25°C, dew point 11°C, altimeter 30.07 inches Hg.
Wreckage and Impact Information
An FAA inspector examined the site. The wreckage came to rest between runway 33/15 and the east parallel taxiway, north of intersection N. Based on crush signatures and ground scars, the airplane appeared to have descended almost straight down at nearly a 30-degree angle, impacting nose first, then both wings, exposing both fuel tanks. Debris pattern was forward and left about 100 feet. The airplane left a mark 1-2 feet behind the trailing edge, then moved forward about 4 feet.
All control surfaces were frozen in place. The flap control rod was broken on both sides. Both main landing gear collapsed. The throttle, mixture, and carburetor heat controls were full forward; ignition was ON. The wooden propeller was mostly intact; right side damage appeared from impact, not rotational forces.
The inspector noted that sheriff deputies reported no fuel smell upon arrival about ten minutes after the accident.
Medical and Pathological Information
Autopsies were authorized by the Glenn County Sheriff-Coroner on August 31, 2009. The cause of death for both pilots was multiple trauma. The commercial pilot's autopsy revealed up to 70% obstruction of the left anterior descending coronary artery by arteriosclerotic coronary artery disease, with no evidence of infarction.
Forensic toxicology on the commercial pilot tested negative for ethanol, not tested for carbon monoxide and cyanide; quinine was detected in liver. Toxicology on the CFI tested negative for ethanol, not tested for carbon monoxide and cyanide, and negative for drugs.
Tests and Research
On September 14, 2009, an engine and airframe examination was conducted at Plain Parts, Pleasant Grove, California.
The Lycoming O-320 engine remained attached. No catastrophic or mechanical malfunction was found. Mechanical continuity was established throughout. Thumb compression noted on all cylinders in proper firing order. Internal borescope examination showed no detonation or foreign object ingestion. Both magnetos produced spark when rotated. No anomalies precluding normal operation were found.
Airframe examination revealed both wings attached but bent and buckled. Ailerons and flaps remained attached; both fuel tanks were breached. Leading edges crushed aft and upwards. Empennage intact. Flight control continuity was established for all primary controls. Left and right rudder cables attached to rudder pedal assembly and rudder/tail wheel. Elevator torque tube separated from cockpit controls, consistent with overload. Left aileron torque tube attached to left control stick; right aileron torque tube separated from right control stick, impact damaged. Left and right flap rods separated from flap bar, consistent with overload. No airframe anomalies precluding normal operation were noted.
A handheld GPS was recovered and sent to the Safety Board's Vehicle Recorders division. Data indicated the airplane performed a 4-turn left spiral over the airport prior to impact. At 1011:21, the airplane was at 549 feet above ground level, ground speed 58 mph, on a track of 292 degrees true.