19990911026269A

(.19) On September 11, 1999, at 1730 hours pacific daylight time, an experiemental glover teenie weenie, N925SG, entered a spiral and crashed near the Chino, California, airport while attempting to return to the field for landing. The airplane was destroyed; however, the student pilot, the sole occupant, received only minor injuries. The airplane was operated by the owner/pilot as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 CFR part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight originated from the Chino Airport at 1720 on the evening of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. He airport control tower operator stated that, after takeoff from runway 21, the pilot reported he was "unable to reach 2,000 feet" and needed "to come back and land." He cleared the pilot to land on runway 26R. He next observed the aircraft, which was then north of the airport about 1,600 feet MSL, entering a tight nose-down spiral. He said the aircraft remained in the spiral until it disappeared from sight. (.4) on September 11, 1999, at 1730 hours pacific daylight time, an experimental glover teenie weenie, N925SG, entered a spiral and crashed near the Chino, California, airport while attempting to return to the field for landing. The airplane was destroyed; however, the student pilot, the sole occupant, received only minor injuries. The airplane was operated by the owner/pilot as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 CFR part 91 when the accident occurred. The flight originated from the Chino Airport at 1720 on the evening of the accident. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airport control tower operator stated that, after takeoff from runway 21, the pilot reported he was "unable to reach 2,000 feet" and needed "to come back and land." He cleared the pilot to land on runway 26R. He next observed the aircraft, which was then north of the airport about 1,600 feet MSL, entering a tight nose-down spiral. He said the aircraft remained in the spiral until it disappeared from sight. The field olevation at Chino Airport is 650 feet MSL. A mechanic at the airport told federal aviation administration (FAA) inspectors that the pilot had been experiencing engine problems that involved overheating and loss of power episodes. The tower operator recalled that during taxi, the pilot had to restart the engine. An FAA inspector reported to the safety board investigator that he examined the airplane and interviewed the pilot. According to the inspector, the pilot had replaced the fixed jet in his single jet carburetor with an adjustable jet. When the inspector examined the carburetor after the accident,he noted that the jet was missing from the carburetor. A visual search of the immediate area failed to locate the missing jet. The FAA inspector also provided the airplane data that is contained in this report. According to FAA records, the pilot reported having accumulated a total of 9 hours of flight time on September 16, 1997, when he completed an application for a third-class medical certificate. At the time of the accident, the pilot told the same inspector that had flown the accident airplane exclusively since he completed its construction on July 7, 1999, a total of 44.7 hours. The pilot's student pilot certificate; however, did not show a solo endorsement for this make and model airplane. (-23) individual encountered an engine failure, possibly due to a carburator jet replacement. The owner himself had replaced the jet from the carburator. Upon investigation and inspection of the enigne, the jet was completely missing. Individual was authorized to fix his own a/c under phase I of his operation specifications. Unable to determine exact cause.