Accident Overview
On October 23, 2019, at approximately 1200 Pacific daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built RV-6 airplane, registration N615RJ, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Spanaway, Washington. The pilot sustained minor injuries, while the passenger sustained serious injuries. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot's report, the initial taxi and engine run-up were normal. However, during the takeoff roll, the engine sputtered, prompting the pilot to abort the takeoff. A subsequent engine run-up revealed no anomalies, and the pilot decided to attempt another takeoff. As the airplane climbed through about 200 feet above ground level, the engine began to sputter again and shortly thereafter lost all power. The pilot executed a forced landing to an open field near the airport, resulting in substantial damage to the aircraft. The pilot stated that there were 18 gallons of fuel onboard before departure.
Post-Accident Examination
Following recovery from the accident site, the engine was examined. The engine controls were continuous from the cockpit to the engine. Hand rotation of the crankshaft at the propeller established continuity through the valve train, and thumb compression was obtained on each cylinder. Both left and right magnetos produced spark at their terminal leads. The top spark plugs were removed and displayed normal operating signatures. Functional testing of the engine-driven fuel pump and throttle body injector revealed no anomalies. An unquantified amount of fuel remained in each of the wing fuel tanks and showed no evidence of contamination. The exact amount of fuel onboard at the time of the accident was not determined.