ERA11LA307

The pilot of the experimental light sport aircraft conducted a low pass over a runway and then applied engine power to climb. The airplane sustained a momentary loss of engine power followed by a sudden total loss of engine power due to the rear piston seizing. The airplane subsequently impacted trees and came to rest on a road. The airplane was equipped with a non-certificated engine that, according to the operator’s manual, was prone to sudden engine stoppage.

On May 22, 2011, about 1945 eastern daylight time, a Flightstar Inc. Flightstar II experimental-light sport aircraft (E-LSA), N194PG, operated by a private pilot, was substantially damaged after it experienced a loss of engine power while maneuvering and impacted terrain, in Grantville, Georgia. The certificated private pilot and a passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight that departed from Newnan-Coweta County Airport (CCO), Newnan, Georgia. The flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records, the airplane was manufactured in 1993 and issued an E-LSA airworthiness certificate on December 8, 2006. It was purchased by the pilot on March 16, 2010. The pilot reported that he departed CCO and flew to an airport about 5 miles to the southwest without incident. He conducted a low-pass over the grass runway, and then applied engine power to climb. The airplane experienced a momentary loss of engine power, which was followed by a sudden total loss of engine power. The airplane subsequently impacted trees and came to rest on a road. It sustained substantial damage to the forward portion of the cockpit, and the boom that supported the empennage was fractured. According to maintenance records, the airplane was equipped with a two-cycle Rotax 503 series engine, which had been operated for about 55 hours since new. The airplane had been operated for about for 965 total hours, which included 30 hours since its most recent condition inspection, which was performed on May 25, 2010. Initial examination of the wreckage by an FAA inspector did not reveal any obvious mechanical malfunctions. The engine was rotated by hand and compression was noted in both cylinders. Two spark plugs removed from the engine were brownish in color and exhibited "normal" wear when compared to a Champion spark plug chart. Approximately 5 gallons of fuel consistent with automotive gasoline was observed in the fuel tank and fuel was observed in the fuel lines to both carburetors. A subsequent disassembly of the engine by the pilot revealed scoring and other damage consistent with the rear piston seizing during engine operation. The safety information section of the engine operators manual stated the following, in part: "WARNING: This engine, by its design, is subject to sudden stoppage. Engine stoppage can result in crash landing, forced landings or no power landings. Such crash landing can lead to serious bodily injury or death. WARNING: This is not a certificated aircraft engine. It has not received any safety or durability testing, and conforms to no aircraft standards…."