NTSB Factual Report

On June 19, 2002, at 0805 mountain standard time, a Quinn RV-6A, experimental homebuilt, single-engine airplane, N799RQ, impacted the terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power near the El Paso International Airport, El Paso, Texas. The airplane was owned and operated by the private pilot under Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot, sole occupant of the airplane, received minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local test flight, and a flight plan was not filed. The flight departed El Paso at 0750.

The 326-hour pilot reported that this was the first test flight for the airplane. He had climbed the airplane to 7,000 feet msl over the airport, and noted that the oil temperature indicated over 240 degrees. A change in the mixture and power settings did not affect the temperature. The El Paso Tower controller was advised, and the pilot was cleared to land the airplane on runway 26; however, the airplane was "too high and too fast." Subsequently, the pilot advised the controller that the airplane would not make runway 26L, and the controller cleared the pilot to land the airplane on any runway. The airplane did not have enough altitude or power to reach runway 08, and the airplane landed at the approach end of runway 08. During the landing roll, the airplane encountered soft sand and a ditch, the nose landing gear collapsed and the airplane came to rest inverted.

The FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, found the airplane inverted and short of the runway. The nose landing gear was collapsed. The outboard 6-10 inches of the propeller blades were bent aft with leading edge gouges. Structural damage was found at the fuselage and wings.

NTSB Probable Cause

A loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.