Accident Details
On April 14, 2008, at 1310 eastern daylight time, a Boeing E75N1, registration N3840K, sustained substantial damage when it struck the ground during the base leg turn of a visual flight rules (VFR) approach to runway 28 at Youngstown Elser Metro Airport (4G4), Youngstown, Ohio. The airline transport pilot received minor injuries and the airline transport pilot rated passenger received serious injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 flight departed 4G4 about 1305 on a post-maintenance test flight. If the test flight was successful, the pilot planned to continue to Ruhe's Airport (R47), Leipsic, Ohio. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed.
Flight History
The pilot reported that a maintenance test flight was required due to extensive airframe and engine repairs. Before the first takeoff, he performed two engine run-ups and noted the engine was "missing." The first takeoff was aborted after the engine "missed" twice. He returned to the ramp, and the maintenance manager advised that the engine needed more warm-up time. The pilot allowed additional engine warm-up before the second takeoff.
The pilot departed from runway 28 and flew a close-in left traffic pattern at 500–800 feet above ground level (agl). After a touch and go, he made an aggressive pull-up before the crosswind turn and entered a right downwind leg at 500–800 feet agl at 80 knots. About abeam the landing zone, he reduced power to idle and started a turn to base at approximately 30 degrees of bank. Halfway through the turn, he felt a "strong gust/shear from behind." The airspeed indicator showed 60 knots and decreasing. He applied full throttle, but the aircraft "did not seem to respond." The engine did not quit, but the response was not instantaneous. The airplane stalled, the nose pitched down, and it impacted the ground about 1/4 mile from the end of runway 28.
Witness Observations
Numerous witnesses observed the flight. The maintenance manager reported that the engine "coughed" during taxi and the aborted takeoff. He told the pilot the engine was not warm enough and to apply power slowly. He observed the pilot climb to about 500 feet after takeoff and enter a close-in "carrier type" approach. After a touch and go, the pilot made an abrupt pull-up and entered a right downwind at 300–400 feet. During the base turn, the bank angle was 30–45 degrees, altitude 300 feet, and the pilot cut power when entering the turn. The airplane "literally fell out of the sky nose first."
Another witness reported the pilot made a low pass after touch and go, then pulled up sharply before a right downwind. He saw the pilot roll a "very tight base to final" and pull the power halfway through the turn. Wind was from the north, putting the wind on the tail during the turn. The aircraft was in a steep turn, with the entire top of the upper wing visible. It stalled, rolled onto its back, and hit the ground at a steep nose-down angle.
Post-Accident Examination
Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the airplane. Flight controls were inspected and continuity was established to all surfaces with no pre-impact anomalies. The engine had separated from the firewall; the throttle and mixture control rods were sheared off. Both control rods moved when cockpit controls were operated. The throttle and mixture push-pull tubes attached to the carburetor were secure and safe tied. The throttle linkage rod exhibited a fracture consistent with bending overstress.
A new wooden propeller with 0.0 hours had been installed. One blade was broken and separated at the hub. The other blade was broken at the hub with about two feet remaining, splintered. The outboard section of that blade was separated and the blade end was splintered.