NYC03LA171

The pilot had purchased the airplane from a previous owner, and performed some modifications, which included installing "one-half of a Volkswagen automobile engine." The accident flight was pilot's first flight in the airplane. After the pilot departed his private airstrip, witnesses observed the airplane about 100 feet above the ground, and heard a fluctuation in engine power. The airplane subsequently impacted a field about 1 mile east of the airstrip. The airplane impacted in a flat attitude, with no horizontal movement. There was no indication of engine power at the accident site, and the fuel tank had been compromised during the impact.

On July 31, 2003, about 1955 eastern daylight time, an amateur built Hummel Bird airplane, N7075Y, was substantially damaged during a forced landing, following a loss of engine power near North Baltimore, Ohio. The certificated private pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight that originated from a private airstrip. No flight plan was filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector spoke to the pilot's brother shortly after the accident. According to the pilot's brother, the pilot had purchased the airplane from a previous owner, and performed some modifications, which included installing "one-half of a Volkswagen automobile engine." The accident flight was pilot's first flight in the airplane. The pilot departed his family's private airstrip about 1950, and flew in an easterly direction. Witnesses observed the airplane about 100 feet above the ground, and heard a fluctuation in engine power. The airplane subsequently impacted a field about 1 mile east of the airstrip.

Examination of the wreckage by the FAA inspector revealed that the airplane had impacted in a flat attitude, with no horizontal movement. The landing gear collapsed, and the fuselage was buckled. There was no visible rotation marks on the propeller spinner. One propeller tip was imbedded in the ground, the remainder of the wooden propeller was not damaged. The inspector was unable to rotate the propeller due to a bent cowling and propeller flange.

The inspector also noted that the fuel tank had been compromised, and separated from the airplane. The fuel tank was found lying in nearby vegetation and no discoloration was observed on the vegetation or soil in the immediate vicinity of the fuel tank. No fuel odor was present at the accident site. The inspector did smell a fuel odor emanating from the inside of the fuel tank. He examined the carburetor and observed a few drops of fuel, consistent with automobile gasoline.