20011118031439A

(-23) Aircraft was departing runway 23 at Robbins field. Aircraft was found about 3/4 of the way down and approximately 100 yards to the right side of runway 23 in the woods. Aircraft had impacted the ground in a vertical nose first position. Inspection of the wreckage showed the propeller was in the 6 and 12 o'clock position with indication of rotation on impact. Inspection of the engine will be done at a later time. (.19) on November 18, 2001, about 1530 central standard time, a robert n. gilmore, rans S-10, amateur built airplane, N96AU, registered to an individual, crashed following loss of engine power shortly after takeoff from Robbins field, Oneonta, Alabama, while on a 14 CFR part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorlogical conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was destroyed and the private-rated pilot received fatal injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. A witness stated to an FAA inspector that during climb through about 250 feet after takeoff, when the airplane was about 2/3 of the way down runway 23, the engine stopped. The pilot was initiating a turn to the right at that time and then turn back to the left. The airplane then stalled and entered a spin from which it crashed. (.4) a witness stated that as the airplane climbed through about 250 feet after takeoff, when the airplane was about 2/3 of the way down runway 23, the propeller stopped rotating. The pilot initiated a slow turn to the left and dropped the nose. The airplane then fell sharply to the left and spiraled to the left one and a half turns and went out of sight behind trees. Postcrash examination of the airplane showed the airplane crashed about 100-150 yards northwest of runway 23, about 2/3 of the way down the runway. The airplane came to rest on a 050 degree heading, in a 45 degree nose down attitude. The engine was seized and the propeller had no rotational damage. The tachometer read 196.8 hours. Postcrash examination of the engine showed the front cylinder walls showed evidence of galling, as did the compression ring, which remained compressed in the piston groove after removal. The damage was most severe on the exhaust side. An intake manifold seal for this cylinder was found cracked and the internal metal ring of this seal rusted. Th e second seal had no damage. The rear cylinder was removed and had no damage. Postmortem toxicology testing was negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, and ethanol. The tests were positive for .005 ug/ml alprazolam in blood, .225 ug/ml alprazolam in urine, .343 ug/ml alpha-hydroxyalprazolam in urine, 54.821 ug/ml acetaminophen in urine, and triamterene in blood and urine. Triamterene is a prescription diuretic, is approved by the FAA for use by pilots, and was reported to be prescribed by the pilot on his last medical exam application, dated 09-17-2001. Alprazolam is a prescription tranquilizer, is not approved by the FAA for use by pilots, and was not reported by the pilot as a prescription on his 09-17-2001 medical application. The level found in the pilot's blood and urine was consistent with a very low dose. The drug has measurable adverse effects on performance. Acetaminophen is an over the counter pain reliever, and is approved for use by pilots by the FAA. A picture was found by an FAA inspector in aircraft documents that show the airplane was involved in a previous accident. No record of this accident was found in the NTSB accident database.