Pilot Debrief

RUTAN DEFIANT near Plainville, CT — 2018-07-12

Final reportERA18FA189
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Date
2018-07-12
Location
Plainville, CT, USA
Airport
4B8
Aircraft
RUTAN DEFIANT
Registration
N17DR
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Initial climb

Probable cause

The pilot's loss of airplane control during climb for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

NTSB narrative

The private pilot, who was one of the builders of the twin-engine, experimental, amateur-built airplane, was conducting a local flight in the airport traffic pattern. A wing-mounted camera captured the ground operations and accident flight. After seemingly normal engine start and runup checks, the pilot departed to the north, remaining in the airport traffic pattern for a subsequent landing. While over the runway threshold on landing approach, he initiated a go-around. The airplane climbed left of the runway centerline, then entered a steep, descending left turn at varying angles of bank, some exceeding 60º. The airplane continued to descend in an erratic manner until it impacted the ground. An examination of the aircraft systems and engines revealed no evidence of a preimpact anomaly or failure. There was ample fuel on board for the flight. The forward engine wooden propeller showed evidence of rotational damage. Although the aft engine propeller was generally undamaged, the crash dynamics and the aft mounting of the propeller assembly likely shielded it from damage during impact. Although conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious carburetor icing at glide power, an electronic engine monitor showed no evidence of a loss of engine power, nor did a sound spectrum study of the wing-mounted camera audio. Autopsy and toxicology testing of the pilot revealed no evidence of physiological impairment or incapacitation, and the reason for the pilot's erratic and aggressive maneuvering after the go-around could not be determined.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the takeoff when the airplane veered left after takeoff.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 22 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents22

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