CEN09LA440

A witness reported that the pilot departed from the grass airstrip in the weight-shift controlled aircraft about three minutes prior to the accident. He reported that the aircraft was about 100 - 150 feet above ground level. He stated, “The plane seemed to go up and then the left wing dipped, and then the airplane spiraled to the ground.” He reported that the engine was running. The impact damage to the aircraft was consistent with a steep, nose down attitude. The inspection of the aircraft’s weight-shift control system revealed no preexisting anomalies. The inspection of the aircraft logbook indicated that the last conditional maintenance inspection was conducted on December 15, 2006. A review of the aircraft experimental operating limitations as of August 28, 2005, item #18, stated that, “No person shall operate this aircraft unless the preceding twelve calendar months it has had a conditional inspection performed, and recorded in the aircraft maintenance records.”

On July 14, 2009, at 2004 eastern daylight time, an amateur-built, experimental Antares MA-33, N6405, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain near Chapman Field (OH71), Centerburg, Ohio. The private pilot, the sole occupant, received fatal injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight departed about 2001 on a local flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. A witness, who had about 3,000 hours of flight experience, reported that the weight-shift controlled aircraft departed from the grass airstrip about three minutes prior to the accident and was about 100 - 150 feet above ground level. He stated, “The plane seemed to go up and then the left wing dipped, and then the airplane spiraled to the ground.” He reported that the engine was running. The weight-shift controlled aircraft impacted a mature cornfield 150 feet north of runway 27 (3,200 feet by 80 feet, turf) and about 800 feet from the departure end of runway 27. The winds were reported as 270 degrees at 10 knots. The traffic pattern for runway 27 is right traffic. The aircraft wreckage was confined to the initial impact area. The corn stalks surrounding the impact area were still standing and did not exhibit any damage from the aircraft’s descent. The leading edge of the wing was crushed aft, and the nose gear and cockpit fairing were crushed and buckled aft. The aft mounted engine was still mounted to the airframe and was resting on its side. The engine exhibited impact damage and the fuel tank was ruptured. The two-bladed propeller remained attached to the engine. Both blades exhibited impact damage. Inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspected the cornfield where the accident occurred and the aircraft where it was stored in a nearby facility. The inspection of the aircraft revealed that the engine oil pump lever was plastic-tie wrapped in the two o’clock position with no cable attached. The exhaust only had two bolts per side and two bolts were missing. The foot throttle lever had a bungee cord wrapped around it, keeping it in the maximum power setting. The inspection of the aircraft logbook indicated that the last conditional maintenance inspection was conducted on December 15, 2006. The inspection was signed off by the aircraft’s original owner. The logbook indicated that a condition inspection was started in June 1, 2008, but it was not completed and there was no signature. A review of the aircraft experimental operating limitations as of August 28, 2005, item #18, stated that, “No person shall operate this aircraft unless the preceding twelve calendar months it has had a conditional inspection performed, and recorded in the aircraft maintenance records." The aircraft was an amateur-built, experimental Antares MA-33, serial number 070382, manufactured in 2003. It was a two seat weight-shift controlled aircraft with a 65-horsepower Rotax 582 engine. The maximum gross weight was 990pounds. The original owner/builder had sold the aircraft to a second owner. The second owner reported that he parked the aircraft in his hangar and had never flown it. The second owner reported that he sold the aircraft to the accident pilot in an “as is condition.” A witness reported that the pilot had started to base the aircraft at the airport three days prior to the accident. The witness reported that he had not seen the pilot fly the aircraft before the accident, but he had witnessed him taxiing the aircraft at high speeds several times. The pilot was a 54-year-old private pilot with a single-engine land rating. He held a third class medical certificate that was issued in September 2007. During his medical examination, he indicated that he had a total of 1,250 flight hours. The pilot’s logbook indicated that he received 3.1 hours of instruction in an “AirBorne” MicroLight XT-912, a weight-shift controlled aircraft, on April 4 - 5, 2009. The logbook indicated that the pilot had flown about 8 hours in the accident aircraft. A brother of the accident pilot reported that the pilot had started flying in 1979, and had extensive flying experience in weight-shift controlled aircraft and ultra-light aircraft. An autopsy of the pilot was conducted on July 15, 2009, at the office of the Licking County Coroner’s Office in Newark, Ohio. A Forensic Toxicology Fatal Accident Report was prepared by the FAA Civil Aeromedical Institute. The results were negative for all substances and drugs tested.