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NTSB Report

November 29, 2008 · Adkins Ridge Runner II · N825PB

Mulino, OR

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 29, 2008
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Mulino, OR
Aircraft
Adkins Ridge Runner II
Tail Number
N825PB
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
WPR09LA052

The pilot had recently purchased the amateur-built experimental airplane and received operating limitations from the Federal Aviation Administration for flight testing of the airplane. On the day of the accident, the pilot first performed taxi tests and then began taking off, climbing to about 10 feet above the ground, reducing power and landing back on the runway. The pilot completed a few of these runs and then taxied back onto the runway for another run. He advanced the throttle and noted that the tachometer only went to 4,000 rpm. The airplane lifted off the runway and climbed to about 150 feet above the ground. The pilot said it would not "climb higher or speed up." The airspeed was reading about 45 to 50 knots. The pilot started looking for a place to land and seeing obstacles ahead and to the left, he executed a shallow right turn back towards the airfield. The airplane stalled without notice and the pilot was not able to recover prior to ground impact. The airplane came to rest in a nose down position in a flat grassy field. The engine was displaced rearward, and the forward portion of the fuselage was crushed and compressed aft. The pilot reported that he had accumulated 240.7 hours total flight time of which 0 hours were in the accident make and model airplane. Following the accident, the propeller was found to be in "high pitch preventing the engine from turning up to more than 4,000 rpm, limiting the horsepower."

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to attain an adequate airspeed that resulted in a stall/mush during the initial climb. Contributing to the accident were the pilot's lack of experience in this make and model airplane and the improper adjustment of the propeller pitch.

Full Narrative

On November 29, 2008, about 1236 Pacific standard time, an Adkins Ridge Runner II amateur-built experimental airplane, N825PB, impacted terrain following a loss of control during initial climb after takeoff from runway 32 at Portland-Mulino Airport, Mulino, Oregon. The private pilot, the sole occupant, received serious injuries. The airplane, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The flight was originating when the accident occurred. A witness, who was the pilot's uncle and held an Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) mechanic's certificate, reported that the pilot had recently purchased the airplane in Idaho and moved it to Oregon by ground transport. The pilot applied for, and received, operating limitations from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for flight testing of the airplane. On the day of the accident, the pilot first performed taxi tests and then began taking off, climbing to about 10 feet above the ground, reducing power and landing back on the runway. The pilot completed a few of these runs and then taxied back onto the runway for another run, but did not reduce power after getting airborne. The witness reported that the airplane climbed to about 75 to 100 feet above the ground and flew pass the end of the runway. It was flying "very slow." Then the pilot banked the airplane "for a right hand turn to return to the runway." When the bank angle reached about 30 degrees, the wing "suddenly dropped" and "as the wing dropped, the nose of the aircraft dropped also." Within 1 to 2 seconds the airplane hit the ground. The pilot reported that he taxied onto the runway "for taxi test and possible take off." He advanced the throttle and noted that the tachometer "only went to 4,000 rpm." The airplane lifted off the runway and climbed to about 150 feet above the ground. It would not "climb higher or speed up." The airspeed was reading about 45 to 50 knots. The pilot "started looking for a place to land" and seeing obstacles ahead and to the left, he executed a "shallow right turn back towards the airfield." The airplane stalled "without notice" and there was not "any time or space to recover." Review of photos of the airplane at the accident site taken by local authorities revealed that the airplane came to rest in a nose down position in a flat grassy field. The engine was displaced rearward, and the forward portion of the fuselage was crushed and compressed aft. Both wings displayed skin wrinkles. The pilot reported that he had accumulated 240.7 hours total flight time of which 0 hours were in the accident make and model airplane. Following the accident, the mechanic examined the wreckage and found that the propeller was in "high pitch preventing the engine from turning up to more than 4,000 rpm, limiting the horsepower." The mechanic also reported that the accuracy of the airspeed indicator had not been checked, and "it may have been in error."

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:36 PST
Nearest AirportPortland-Mulino (1nm)
Runway32
Runway Length3425 ft
Runway Width100 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftAdkins Ridge Runner II
Tail NumberN825PB
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax · 503DCDI · Reciprocating · 52
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 30 · First Class · Serious

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind210° @ 4 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingOvercast 2000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point57 / 52
Altimeter30.43 inHg
Observation Time20:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data