19990320002269A

Acft crashed under unknown circumstances between 2 houses, the pilot/sole occupant suffered fatal injuries, the acft has substantial damage. (-23) on March 20, 1999, about 1000 eastern standard time, an experimental pushkar Hornet, N4376N, owned by a private individual, lost power during climb and impacted with the ground near unincorporated Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR part 91 personal flight. The airplane was destroyed. The private-rated pilot was fatally injured. The flight had originated from north perry airport, hollywood, Florida, before 0900, and had stopped at a private airstrip, for about 1 hour, enroute to pahakee, Florida. The flight took off from the private airstrip about 10 minutes before the accident. After departure the pilot of N4376N made radio contact, on a prearranged frequency, with the pilot of another aircraft that had taken off before him, and both aircraft were to fly together to the destination airport. According to the pilot of the airplane, both airplanes were heading northwest when radio contact was made. The pilot of N4376N said, "....I'm not gettin g full power or good power." According to the other pilot. "....I said as I turned to locate him, do you want to make a precautionary at maclvor's (the private airstrip). He said 'roger', when I saw him he was already heading southeast towards maclvor's field and approx. 1 mile southeast of me." The next radio transmission the pilot of N4376M said, "...no temperature on the back cylinder....I am a glider." Witnesses saw the airplane heading in a southeasterly direction, then turn to the left, and descend nose first into the ground. The airplane and engine were put into severice on December 1, 1998, and had accumulated 1.5 hours of total flight time since new. The pilot had received his private pilots certificate on March 3, 1999, and had 1.5 hours of total flight time in this make and model airplane. Examination of the engine at the crash site revealed that a spark plug on the rear cylinder was found completely out of the cylinder. There were four spark plugs and the other three were found tight in the cylinder. (.4) the pilot of N4376N made radio contact with the pilot of another aircraft that had taken off before him and said, '......I'm not getting full power or good p ower.....' The next radio transmission the pilot of N4376N said, '....no temperature on the back cylinder...I am a glider.' Witnesses saw the airplane turn to the left, and descend nose first into the ground. Examination of the engine revealed that a spark plug on the rear cylinder was found completely out of the cylinder. Three out four spark plugs were found tight in the cylinder. According to the owner/builder's assembly log, when he received the engine he found that there where, '...4 [four] broken spark plugs, no engine manual.' After he received 12 new spark plugs he made an entry on August 11, 1998, '...installed sensors for egt's [exhaust gas temperature], cht's [cylinder head temperature], put in 4 new spark plugs.' A log entry dated August 13, 1998, '...installed and wired left and right cht/egt temperature sensor [note: the CHT sensor was located in the rear cylinder, with the spark plug that was found out of the hole.]. Torqued spark plugs.' At the time of the accident the airplane and engine had accumulated 1.5 hours of total flight time since new. Examination of spark plug that was found out of the cylinder revealed that cylinder material found on the three o utermost threads corresponded to three stripped threads in the cylinder hole. The thread damage was an indication that the spark plug was cross-threaded, partially inserted, or improperly torqued when it was installed by the airplane's owner/builder. The pilot had received his private pilots certificate on March 3, 1999, and had 1.5 hours of total flight time in this kind, make and model airplane.