The pilot of the experimental amateur-built Rans S-14 was flight testing a newly installed propeller.
During ground static testing, he found the propeller RPM to be acceptable.
After liftoff from the airport in Bonaire, Georgia, the RPM increased to a non-acceptable range. He responded by reducing the throttle and retracting the flaps.
He told investigators the airplane’s flight controls felt like a “…mushy precursor to a stall.”
He increased engine power to full and lowered the nose to increase airspeed.
He turned left in an attempt to return to the airport, but the airplane would not maintain altitude.
The airport was surrounded by housing developments, so he guided the airplane toward trees to avoid hitting the houses.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings, tailboom, and cabin structure in the accident, while the pilot sustained serious injuries.
Following the accident, the pilot stated that he had “inadequately adjusted” the propeller’s pitch, which resulted in the airplane’s inability to maintain thrust and lift.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to properly adjust the propeller’s pitch angle, which resulted in a loss of thrust and an inability to maintain altitude.
To download the final report. Click here. This will trigger a PDF download to your device.
This June 2023 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.
There is this one non-pilot in particular, and I’m glad I’m not the only one calling this individual out for his criticizing know-it-all remarks. J.B.P. has made a habit of it.
That was supposed to be in reply to Scott Patterson’s post. Not sure why it didn’t show there.
Sticks and stones…. I stand by my observations of pilot errors causing terrible accidents. Just glad he didn’t kill some innocent on the ground. You don’t need to be a pilot to comment on GA piloting, just you don’t need to be a weatherman to tell which way the wind is blowing.
Regards/J
If you read the 6120 report, he had flown this aircraft for 20 years and 660+ hours.
He did not set the ground adjustable prop blades to a high enough pitch to generate the needed thrust to maintain level flight….sad.
The static rpm that he got was too high, for the 503 engine.
It’s like driving a car on the freeway and trying to go 70 mph in 2nd gear….the engine will hit a rev limit and the car won’t get to 70 mph.
Believe the issue is if the rpm could overspeed and throttle reduction could result in underspeed, why wasn’t the throttle simply adjusted to the required rpm. I’ll assume the adjuster was loose.
PS; this forum seems to have become a platform for condensending self-righteous asses who can’t stay on topic and have a need to spill everything they think they know.
Another form of ‘getthereitis:’ Let’s get ‘er up and try ‘er out, Jethro! He’s llucky he lived looking at that pile of junque.
Regards/j
Attached is the pilot’s “Narrative History of the Flight”.
Please point out exactly where you feel that evidence of “getthereitis” had anything to do with this accident.
“Flight testing new prop. Ground static testing acceptable results. 6220rpm. ground test was dupicated to confirm results. Pre-takeoff checks of mags and flight controls no problems. Take off roll, flaps first notch, full power rotation air speed 65, rpm 6000. After lift off, rpm increased to over 6500 non acceptable rpm range. Throttled back to 6000rpm retracted flaps, controls felt mushy precursor to a stall, immediately went to coordinated full power and dropped nose and intiated gradual coordinated left turn in an attempt to return to the airfield. The airfield is surrounded by housing developments. Aircraft would not maintain altitude regardless of full throttle and continued to gradually descend. Knew I did not have enough altitude to return to the airfield. Saw some trees in a housing development. Guided aircraft to impact the trees to avoid houses and possible injury to other personnel and their property. Aircraft wreckage was in the tress and on the ground in a home owners back yard. no one injured,but me. Aircraft departure time around 0945 local from wrap.destination wrap. wind out of the west north west variable 5 to 10. optimum flight conditions for this aircraft.”