Accident Overview
On July 16, 2019, at about 1321 Pacific daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Vans RV-14A airplane, registration N365EM, was destroyed in an accident near Aumsville, Oregon. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. The flight was operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Flight and Pilot's Actions
The pilot departed Aurora State Airport (UAO), Aurora, Oregon, at 1235, intending to fly to Corvallis Municipal Airport (CVO), Corvallis, Oregon. About one hour into the flight, while cruising at 1,500 ft above ground level, the pilot reported a loss of all electrical instrumentation and the smell of burning wiring. He initiated an emergency descent seconds later when smoke began to fill the cockpit and flames entered the lower part of the cockpit near the left side rudder pedals. The pilot conducted a forced landing to a field and evacuated the airplane, which continued to burn until first responders extinguished the fire.
The pilot stated that the day before the accident, he had changed the oil and replaced the oil filter. After removing the engine cowling, he observed no indication of an oil leak. He started the engine, ran it to normal operating temperatures (oil pressure was 75 psi), then shut it down and inspected for leaks, finding none. The new oil filter was safety-wired.
Postaccident Examination
Postaccident examination revealed extensive thermal damage, particularly to the engine and cockpit area. Charring of the engine mount powder coating indicated the fire was more intense on the left side of the airplane. The left fuel tank contained about 13 gallons of aviation fuel, and the right tank contained about 6 gallons. Due to the extensive thermal damage, the exact origin of the fire could not be determined.
Service Bulletin
On May 6, 2020, Van's Aircraft released a service bulletin warning about potential leakage of Kavilco pressure sensors, commonly used in fuel, oil, and manifold pressure applications on all RV models. The exact cause of the sensor failures—whether manufacturing, installation, fatigue, or other—has not been determined. The accident airplane was equipped with an aluminum manifold located on the upper left side of the firewall, where both the oil and fuel pressure sensors were mounted. The manifold and both sensors were destroyed by the fire.