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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

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NTSB Report

November 29, 2014 · Rans S-14 · UNREG

Kewanee, IL

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 29, 2014
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 serious injury)
Location
Kewanee, IL
Aircraft
Rans S-14
Tail Number
UNREG
Injuries
Serious
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CEN15LA068

The pilot reported that he had recently obtained the pusher-type airplane and that the accident flight was the first time he had flown it or any pusher-type airplane. He performed numerous taxi tests over a 3-hour period and then decided to take off and fly around the traffic pattern. On the first approach to landing, the airplane was too high, so he performed a go-around. The pilot reported that, during the next approach, as the airplane was about 100 ft above ground level and positioned to land, he reduced the engine power, and the airplane just "fell out of the sky." He reported that the engine was running normally when he reduced the power for landing. The airplane impacted the ground in a nearly flat attitude, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain airspeed during the final approach, which resulted in a stall/mush. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to obtain training in the pusher-type airplane.

Full Narrative

On November 29, 2014, about 1230 central standard time, an experimental, amateur-built Rans S-14, sustained substantial damage during a loss of control while landing at the Kewanee Municipal Airport (EZI), Kewanee, Illinois. The sport pilot received serious injuries. The airplane was not registered with the Federal Aviation Administration. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The airplane departed EZI about 1200 on a local flight. The airport manager reported that he saw the airplane flying at EZI, and that the pilot did a go-around after the first attempt to land on runway 19 (3,200 feet by 60 feet, asphalt). During the second attempt to land, he observed the airplane on final about 100 feet above ground level (agl); it was flying slowly with about a 1 to 2 degree nose up pitch. He reported that the airplane then dropped straight down while maintaining about a wings level attitude. The airplane was about 50 feet agl when he lost sight of it as it dropped below a hill. The airplane impacted a corn field about a 1/4 mile from the approach end of runway 19. The pilot reported that he had recently obtained the pusher airplane, and the day of the accident was the first time he had flown it or any pusher-type airplane. On the day of the accident, he performed numerous taxi tests over a 3-hour period. On the last taxi run, he decided to takeoff and fly around the pattern. On the first approach to landing, he was too high so he performed a go-around. The pilot reported that during the next approach, the airplane was about 100 feet above ground level and was positioned to land. He reduced engine power and the airplane just "fell out of the sky." He reported that the engine was running normally when he reduced the power for landing. The airplane impacted the ground in a nearly flat attitude, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The distance from the initial point of impact to the main wreckage was about 50 feet. The fuselage and cockpit exhibited downward crushing, but the wings exhibited no damage to the leading edge. The propeller blades exhibited damage to all three blades. Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 103 states that airplanes that have an empty weight that exceeds 254 pounds or more; have a fuel capacity that exceeds 5 U.S. gallons; are capable of more than 55 knots airspeed at full power in level flight; and have a power-off stall speed that exceeds 24 knots are not considered ultralight airplanes and must be registered. The specifications for a Rans S-14 indicated that the empty weight is 390 pounds; it is equipped with a 9-gallon fuel tank; its cruise speed is 90 mph, and it has a stall speed of 38 mph.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time12:30 CST
Nearest AirportKewanne Municipal Airport (0nm S)
Runway19
Runway Length3200 ft
Runway Width60 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftRans S-14
Tail NumberUNREG
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax · 582 · Reciprocating · 65
Seats1

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 serious injury)
Fatal0
Serious1
Minor0
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 37 · Sprt · Serious

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind210° @ 10 kt, gusting 17 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point48 / 43 C
Altimeter29.57 inHg
Observation Time17:52
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data