1998 – N173VE – Cory Howe – Velocity SE/FG – Little Rock, AR – 2

The experimental homebuilt airplane was destroyed when it impacted trees following a loss of engine power during the takeoff/initial climb. Several witnesses reported that the engine sputtered then it lost power. Post-accident metallurgical examination revealed radial and circumferential cracks on the valve seat head of the #3 exhaust valve. The combustion chamber face of the […]

1997 – N907ME – Mark Ewart – Florence, SC – Velocity SE/RG – 4

Following departure from an en route fuel and rest stop, the pilot reported a propeller problem and returned to the departure airport. The propeller was disassembled to repair what the pilot reported was a failure of the electrical pitch change for the propeller blades. According to witnesses, who saw and talked with the pilot as […]

1997 – N7VX – Moses Walton – Velocity SE/FG – Chino Valley, AZ – 0

The aircraft was in cruise when the pilot said the engine began surging. He attempted to rectify the problem by adjusting mixture, magnetos, and the secondary electric fuel pump, without success. As the pilot was looking for a precautionary landing area, the engine quit. The airplane crashed into some small scrub oaks during the forced […]

1997 – N280DM – Daniel Martin – Velocity SE/RG – Mountauk, NY – 0

The pilot flew a 15 minute local flight with a passenger in his homebuilt airplane, and returned to land at the departure airport. He entered a left downwind for runway 24, lowered the landing gear, and extended the speed brakes when he turned final. About 50 feet above the ground when he began to ’round […]

1997 – N444BG -Bob Van Horn – Velocity SE/RG – Goodyear, AZ – 1

While cruising at 4,000 feet during a personal flight, the pilot reported to the air traffic controller that he was about 10 miles from the airport, was experiencing an engine problem, and was declaring an emergency. About 1 minute later, he stated that he had a ‘fire on board.’ The pilot made a forced landing […]

1997 – N525V – Bill Richards – Velocity SE/RG – Valkaria, FL – 0

This airplane was involved in this earlier accident. The pilot stated that the engine lost power while maneuvering. According to the pilot’s statement, ‘everything was operating normal, 2500 RPM, 155 knots…2,000 [feet] MSL.’ He then turned north and ‘the engine quit abruptly…no sputtering or gradual loss of RPM.’ He attempted a force landing at a […]