ERA23LA373

The pilot of the 1918-vintage former military fighter airplane reported that during a flight in the airport traffic pattern the engine lost power on the downwind leg. The engine briefly regained power, which allowed the pilot to quickly turn onto the base leg and then onto final approach, but the engine lost power again. The airplane landed hard on the runway, fractured the main landing gear, and nosed over. The postaccident engine examination did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined based on available information.

On September 17, 2023, about 1120 eastern daylight time, an experimental Liore et Oliver Nieuport 28, Swedish registration SE-BMA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in accident near Hudson, Massachusetts. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to the pilot, he was flying the airplane in the airport traffic pattern when, on the downwind leg of the traffic pattern for runway 17, the engine lost power briefly. He was going to set up for an off-field landing when the engine regained power. He turned onto the base leg and then quickly turned onto the final approach when the engine lost power again. The airplane landed hard on the runway and the main landing gear fractured, resulting in a nose-over. The airplane’s wings, engine mounts, and braces were substantially damaged. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector observed the postaccident engine examination conducted by a mechanic who was familiar with the 1918 Gnome 9N rotary engine. The rotary engine’s mixture and throttle settings were set on the ground and no adjustments could be made during flight. The pilot could only turn on/off electrical ignition pulses to the engine cylinders to control power. The examination did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the engine.