Ronald A Gawer RV-12 N975G

Summary

On 6 November 2020 at about 19:58 local time, a Ronald A Gawer RV-12 registered N975G was involved in an accident near Byron, California, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 November 2020 at 19:58

Classification

Accident

Location

Byron, California, United States

Nearest airport

Byron Airport (C83)

Coordinates

37.8232, -121.6297

Aircraft

Ronald A Gawer RV-12

Registration

N975G

Category

Airplane

Year built

2018

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR21LA049

Nobody was injured.

The total loss of engine power due to a fatigue fracture of the crankshaft.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that after takeoff from runway 23, about 466 ft above ground level, the engine “failed,” and he immediately turned back to land. The pilot landed with a direct gusting tailwind and applied hard braking; however, a gust of wind lifted the right wing, and the airplane exited the left side of the runway. The left wing struck a taxiway sign, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. A postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the crankshaft was fractured aft of the No. 2 connecting rod journal. The fracture surface exhibited signatures consistent with fatigue cracking that originated from multiple initiation sites along the radius between the connecting rod journal and the crankshaft web.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.