The pilot reported that he was conducting a high-speed taxi test of a Buhl LA 1 at an airport in Cottage Grove, Oregon, during which he did not intend to fly, when the plane encountered a wind gust and then unexpectedly became airborne.
Insufficient runway was available to abort the takeoff, so he decided to continue flight in the traffic pattern and return to land.
On the downwind leg, the engine lost power. The pilot continued straight ahead toward an open area, and the right wing hit a tree during the forced landing.
A post-accident examination of the engine revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to the formation of carburetor icing at glide and cruise power and serious icing at glide power. The airplane was not equipped with carburetor heat, and it is likely that the loss of engine power was due to carburetor icing.
Probable cause: A loss of engine power on downwind for landing due to carburetor icing, which resulted in a forced landing.
NTSB Identification: WPR15LA156
This May 2015 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.
If the purpose of the test was exclusively a taxi test to presumably check directional control and/or braking action with no intent of flying then why do into the prevailing surface wing where a gust as reported might indeed cause the airplane at a speed approaching normal flying speed to become airborne. Instead do the taxi test downwind. In any case keeping the airplane within gliding distance to the runway when airborne is imperative rather than wandering off into a cross country on the downwind leg which should be standard practice for all pattern work in SE airplanes in the event of an unexpected power loss.
IVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE
Sad to see the loss of a classic little airplane – the Buhl Company only built 100 of them in 1930-31. Never go “playing around” (taxi testing) unless you are absolutely ready to fly the airplane – sh..t happens and you better not get caught with your pants down.
JimH you are a man after my own heart.
I preach this constantly to anyone that will listen and say the same thing.
You beat me to it.
More ‘stupid pilot tricks’. If you’re on downwind , you should be able to glide to the runway. If not, you’re pattern is too d$%n big. I continue to see folks flying ‘bomber patterns’, 1 mile abeam and 1+ miles before turning base.
Practice power-off-180s to a landing. You never know when the engine may quit. Knowing how to fly the last 1,000 ft in a glide is critical to your survival and a safe landing.
I wouldn’t call this a “stupid pilot trick…”, but rather lack of good training along the way, and maybe lack of awareness that our very reliable piston engines is just a “myth”. Kudos to the pilot for flying the aircraft all the way to the ground.
The high powered taxi was a bit aggressive, given with the strong and gusting winds. Maybe that test was better suited for calm wind conditions.
I agree with Jim’s comment that many GA pilots fly patterns that are both too low (I’ve seen 500-600′ and half mile out) AND way too wide. Better to fly 1/4 to 3/8 mile pattern at 800-1000′ and be spring loaded to go to Vbg if the need arises. I don’t like power off approaches, but practice them from time to time through the year. It’s an essential skill to have.