Van's RV10 N730WL

Summary

On 21 July 2023 at about 18:50 local time, a Van's RV10 registered N730WL was involved in an accident near Chouteau, Oklahoma, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 July 2023 at 18:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Chouteau, Oklahoma, United States

Coordinates

36.1754, -95.3299

Aircraft

Van's RV10

Registration

N730WL

Category

Airplane

Year built

2009

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Muskogee-Davis Regional Airport → Pryor

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN23LA327

2 people had minor injuries.

The total loss of engine power as a result of a failed positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve and a subsequent impact with terrain.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The amateur-built experimental airplane was in cruise flight when the pilot noticed that a red warning light in the cockpit was illuminated. The “oil pressure gauge” was “pegged” at 320°F. The pilot immediately reduced engine power and initiated a glide profile to “take all the load off the engine” so it could cool down. While setting up for the approach to land at the closest airport, the engine “seized up” and sustained a total loss of power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a flat grass field. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. Postaccident examination of the experimental automotive engine revealed that the positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) valve had failed. The pilot reported that the failed PCV valve caused the engine to suck “too much oil” out of the crankcase and into the intake section. He additionally reported that over the “long slow climb” to the cruise altitude of 6,000 ft, this caused the oil level to get “too low,” eventually causing the oil to overheat, and that once the oil overheated, the engine then stopped operating.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.