The pilot reported he had recently obtained the pusher-type airplane, a RANS S-14, and that the accident flight was the first time he had flown it or any pusher-type airplane.
He performed numerous taxi tests at the airport in Kewanee, Ill., over a three-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.
He reported that, during the next approach, as the airplane was about 100 feet 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 hit the ground in a nearly flat attitude, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage and serious injuries to the pilot.
The NTSB determined the probable cause as 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.
NTSB Identification: CEN15LA068
This November 2014 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Agree with all comments. Some time at a safe altitude with basic maneuvers required for solo also should have demonstrated the airplane’s flying characteristics.
Not much of an answer as to the cause such as to why a pusher and a puller differ in reference to lack of air speed with reduced power when landing. A pusher is designed to be more stable than a puller.
The high thrust line tends to push the nose down so you need back pressure to compensate. When power is removed the nose will naturally rise unless you compensate with forward stick and we all know that will lead to reduced airspeed and potentially stall. The BD-5 aircraft had that issue due to the high thrust and this aircraft’s configuration is no different. There are plenty of such designs that use a low boom and high engine to permit a midships pusher arrangement in the ultralight category. In fact the Rans S-12 is a 2-seat version of the same aircraft and could have been used to gain familiarization in the type if the pilot had taken the time, effort and expense to seek one out for at least a familiarization flight with an experienced owner.
The S-14 was a single seat design so not much chance of getting dual instruction but some pointers from a pilot experienced in the type could have been helpful.
No instructor time in a new airplane, bad move.
Reducing power in a pusher aircraft causes nose up pitch and slowing.
Reducing power in a tractor aircraft causes nose down pitch and acceleration.
This is due to the thrust component-lift occurring at the engine attachment.
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Does the damn thing not have an air speed indicator?