What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
(-23) On 4-10-05, at approximately 0940, privacy data omitted pilot in command of N5DK, departed runway 10 at kendalville airport (C62) on his first test flight of the experimental turbine aircraft. After departure, while on a downwind, he began to lose pitch on the prop and experienced a drop in RPM that was not controllable. He immediately returned to the airport for landing. While on base leg he continued to lose RPM and was unable to maintain altitude. He struck an embankment with the nosewheel just west of the runway, slid across highway 3, and landed in a ditch 50 yards short of the runway. He was the only occupant and was not injured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
As the FAA filed it
(-23) ON 4-10-05, AT APPROXIMATELY 0940, ^PRIVACY DAT^ PILOT IN COMMAND OF N5DK, DEPARTED RUNWAY 10 AT KENDALVILLE AIRPORT (C62) ON HIS FIRST TEST FLIGHT OF THE EXPERIMENTAL TURBINE AIRCRAFT. AFTER DEPARTURE, WHILE ON A DOWNWIND, HE BEGAN TO LOSE PITCH ON THE PROP AND EXPERIENCED A DROP IN RPM THAT WAS NOT CONTROLLABLE. HE IMMEDIATELY RETURNED TO THE AIRPORT FOR LANDING. WHILE ON BASE LEG HE CONTINUED TO LOSE RPM AND WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN ALTITUDE. HE STRUCK AN EMBANKMENT WITH THE NOSEWHEEL JUST WEST OF THE RUNWAY, SLID ACROSS HIGHWAY 3, AND LANDED IN A DITCH 50 YARDS SHORT OF THE RUNWAY. HE WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT AND WAS NOT INJURED. THE AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.