SEA94LA021

During the first flight of the amateur-built aircraft, the engine lost power while the pilot was at about 500 feet above ground level on downwind. He attempted to glide back to the airport instead of landing in available open areas nearer to the downwind. In attempting to get back to the runway, the pilot tried to stretch his glide too FAR, and allowed his airspeed to get low. This resulted in the aircraft stalling just before touchdown and landing hard next to the runway. A post-accident inspection of the engine revealed contamination in the fuel system.

On October 27, 1993, approximately 1100 Pacific daylight time (PDT), an Avid Amphibian, N6664K, landed hard during a forced landing at Scappoose Industrial Airpark, Scappoose, Oregon. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft received serious injuries, and the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The local pleasure flight, which had just made its initial takeoff to remain in the pattern, was operating in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. The pilot did not file a flight plan, and there was no report of an ELT activation.

According to the pilot, this was the first flight of the amateur- built aircraft. He had spent the previous three days "breaking in" and testing the engine, and he had also completed some "taxi runs." Witnesses who observed the engine test runs reported that the pilot had experienced problems getting the engine to start, and that once started, it ran quite rough.

The pilot said that after takeoff, the exhaust gas temperature (EGT) indicated too hot, so he stopped climbing at about 500 feet above ground level (AGL). Then, since the EGT began to drop, he remained at 500 feet AGL. When the aircraft was at about mid- field on downwind, the engine suddenly lost all power. Even though there were open areas near the downwind, the pilot attempted to make it back to the field for landing.

Witnesses said that it appeared that the pilot tried to stretch his glide too far, and that the airspeed became very low, after which the aircraft appeared to stall and land hard between the taxiway and the runway.

A post-accident inspection of the engine found fuel system contamination and numerous other maintenance discrepancies (see attached FAA Inspector's Statement).