What happened
On September 25, 2011, an experimental amateur-built Hutchinson Velocity RG, registration N360TV, crashed into wooded terrain shortly after takeoff from Sanford-Lee County Airport (TTA) in Sanford, North Carolina. The flight was being conducted under VFR conditions, and no flight plan had been filed.
At the time of the accident, two other pilots were performing touch-and-go landings at the airport. One student pilot observed the N360TV at the hold-short line of runway 03. The student noted that the aircraft's takeoff roll was unusually long, reaching the 2,000-foot marker before the pilot initiated rotation. During the subsequent traffic pattern, the student observed the aircraft in a continuous, descending left turn at a very low altitude. The aircraft then disappeared from view, followed by a fireball in the nearby woods. The pilot of the aircraft sustained 1 fatal injury.
The investigation
NTSB investigators examined the wreckage at the accident site and found a 210-foot debris path on flat, wooded terrain. The main wreckage, consisting of the engine compartment, cabin, and cockpit, was destroyed by fire. All three landing gear were found in the down and locked position.
An examination of the engine and turbocharger revealed that the turbocharger waste gate was frozen in a partially open position (approximately two-thirds open) due to heavy corrosion. This condition caused a loss of boost pressure and a significant reduction in available engine power.
Maintenance records indicated that the aircraft's most recent annual inspection had been completed three years prior. In May 2011, the pilot had requested a list of discrepancies needed to return the aircraft to airworthy condition; that list specifically included the frozen waste gate and an inoperative landing gear switch. Additionally, records showed the pilot had not flown the aircraft for approximately 18 months prior to the accident.