20020515014229A

(-23) On may 16, 2002, I arrived at the Merritt Island Airport at 08:00 am. Located the wreckage of N4075Z at the southeast end of the airport, approximately 90 feet off the left side of runway 11, resting in the banana river in about 3 feet of water. The aircraft came to rest pointing about 090 degrees. The aircraft was an experimental amateur-built aircraft constructed from fiberglass composite materials with approximately 30.5 hours total time. The aircraft was powered by a walter 601D turbopropeller engine with an avia propeller. Both engine and propeller were built in the czech republic and are not certified. Visible damage to the aircraft included the following: the windshield was broken out and both front side doors were off the aircraft and lying in the water below the door openings. Both front door frame supports were completely broken at the base of the windshield. Both wings were found hanging down from their attach points. Both wing main struts were buckled with their attachments intact. Both aft spars to fuselage mounts were broken. The wings rotated forward on impact causing damage to the outboard leading edges. The fuel tanks in both wings were ruptured spilling fuel. The right wing still held a large amount of fuel. The main landing gear was of the conventional type and had failed aft. The floor of the cockpit was pushed up into the cockpit. The flaps were in the up position. The rudder trim was found trimmed slightly to the left. The elevator trim was found in the landing configuration, approximately 2 inches down at the trailing edge. Flight control continuity was established for all controls. Both fuel valves were in the open position. The engine control quadrant had broken loose from its mounts and was found positioned in the middle of the cockpit. The throttle control lever was stuck at the idle setting. The propeller control lever was in the full forward position. The fuel control lever was found in the cut off position. Because of damage from the impact, and the subsequent removal of the aircraft from the water, it could not be determined what the engine control position was on the engine. The propeller attach bolts ahd sheared, disconnecting the propeller from the engine. Inspection of the propeller showed that two of the blades were in the negative pitch position and were bent back. One blade was in a positive pitch position with minimal deformation. Witnesses stated that the pilot was doing touch and go practice in the aircraft at the time of the accident. The witnesses further stated that on the third approach, the aircraft was high and hot (fast) nearing the end of runway 11, when the pilot added power to go around. After doing so, the aircraft started climbing in a near vertical position to approximately 200 feet, at which time the aircraft appeared to stall falling off to the left and entered a spin. The aircraft rotated approximately 380 degrees before impacting in the water. The witnesses were approximately 2500 feet from the point of impact at the time of the accident.