19971220039269A

Acft crashed und unk circ, the passenger sufferd fatal inj, acft was destroyed, Greenwood Lake, NJ. (.19) on December 20, 1997, about 1130 eastern standard time, an experimental, home-built, long-ez, N18CC, was substantially damaged while on approach to land at Greenwood Lake airport, west milford, new jersey. The certificated private pilot was seriously injured, and the passenger was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight which originated from farmingdale airport, farmingdale, new york, about 1030. No flight plan had been filed for the flight which was conducted under 14 CFR part 91. According to an inspector from the federal aviation administration (FAA), the airplane was observed to enter a left hand traffic pattern for runway 6 at Greenwood Lake. When informed on the radio that the pattern for runway 6 was a right handed pattern, the airplane was observed to cross over at mid-field, and enter a right downwind for the runway. While the airplane was on downwind, witnesses heard a "pop" from the airplane. A witness reported that he could not hear the airplane engine as the airplan e was on final approach. The airplane struck rising terrain below the level of the runway, about 60 feet prior to the approach end of runway 6. Initial examination of the airplane by inspectors from the FAA revealed that two blades on the three bladed propeller were not damaged. Fuel was present in the carburetor, and both wing tanks. The air intake inlet for the carburetor heat was found to be pointed opposite to the direction of flight. According to an FAA inspector, and FAA records, the airplane had been built in 1986. The pilot/owner purchased the airplane and registered it on November 7, 1997. Following purchase, the owner had the airplane modified by installing a different propeller, the installation of higher compression pistons, and replacement of the right magneto with an electronic ignition system. The left magneto was retained and generated spark by rotation. The electronic ignition system required an external electric source to operate. The aircraft battery was damaged during the accident and was not available for testing. Attempts at starting the engine using the left magneto were unsuccessful. Further investigation revealed that spark was available from the left magneto; however, the ignition harness was only allowing for intermittent spark. When an external electric source was used to power the right side electronic ignition, the engine was started and ran successfully. An airport 15 nautical miles south reported visibility of 8 statue miles, temperature 46 degrees fahrenheit, and dewpoint 36 degrees fahrenheit. Additionally, witnesses at the airport reported that light mist was in the air. According to FAA records, the pilot had in excess of 150 hours.