Accident Summary
On August 4, 2009, about 1515 mountain standard time, a Boeing E75 biplane, registration N5195N, was substantially damaged when it struck terrain while maneuvering near Happy Jack, Arizona. The aircraft was operated by a private pilot under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot was killed, and the passenger/owner sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal cross-country flight, which had originated from Cottonwood, Arizona, about 30 minutes earlier. The intended destination was Holbrook, Arizona.
According to law enforcement, the passenger reported that the airplane "would not gain altitude" and that they were trying to catch thermals but remained unable to climb. The passenger estimated they were about 1,500 feet above ground level when he began looking at maps to aid navigation. The pilot and passenger decided to turn around, and the passenger continued studying maps. A post-accident interview with an FAA inspector revealed the passenger said the airplane was at about 1,700 feet above ground level during cruise, and the pilot decided to turn around because the airplane was not climbing. The passenger stated his head was down looking at a chart during the turn, and when he looked up, "they were going down fast and then he blacked out." There were no known witnesses.
Pilot Information
The pilot, aged 70, held a private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating and a third-class medical certificate issued January 26, 2009, with a limitation requiring corrective lenses. His logbook indicated a total flight time of 668.4 hours, with 4.6 hours in the previous 90 days and 1.5 hours in the previous 30 days in the accident make and model. His most recent flight review was conducted on January 1, 2008, also in the accident aircraft.
Aircraft Information
The two-seat biplane, serial number 75-5960, was manufactured in 1943. It was powered by a Lycoming R680-B4E engine rated at 225 horsepower and equipped with a Sensenitch fixed-pitch wooden propeller. The aircraft maintenance logbooks were not located during the investigation.
Weather Conditions
Recorded data from Sedona Airport, about 15 miles northwest of the accident site at an elevation of 4,830 feet, revealed conditions at 1509: wind from 200 degrees at 3 knots, gusting to 15 knots; visibility 10 statute miles; clear sky; temperature 37 degrees Celsius; dew point 7 degrees Celsius; altimeter setting 30.13 inches of Mercury. Using the accident site elevation and nearest weather data, the calculated density altitude at the site was about 10,681 feet mean sea level.
Wreckage and Impact
The airplane came to rest in an open field at an elevation of 6,692 feet mean sea level. All major structural and flight control components were present, with debris contained within approximately 50 feet of the main wreckage.
Medical and Pathological Information
The Coconino County Medical Examiner conducted an autopsy and determined the cause of death as "multiple injuries." The FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute performed toxicology tests, which were negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, and tested substances.
Engine and Airframe Examination
Examination of the engine and airframe was conducted on August 13, 2009. The airframe showed extensive damage: the right horizontal stabilizer and elevator were bent downward; the left elevator was buckled; the fuselage and left wings were heavily damaged; the upper wing was partially separated. Flight control continuity was established to all primary surfaces, and no mechanical anomalies were noted with the airframe.
The engine was separated from the airframe, with a deformed mount structure. The crankshaft did not rotate manually, and cracks were observed on the crankcase. Internal components, including connecting rods and master rod, appeared undamaged. The carburetor contained residual fuel with an extremely small amount of water, which tested positive with water-finding paste. The metal float was undamaged, and the carburetor fuel screen was clear. The propeller blades were splintered. No mechanical anomalies were identified that would have prevented normal engine operation and power production.