Accident Summary
On July 25, 2013, at 0933 eastern daylight time, a Clayton, Gerald H, Glastar GC-1 single-engine airplane, registration N513GC, was destroyed after striking obstructions and an occupied home during initial climb from Columbus Municipal Airport (BAK), Columbus, Indiana. The pilot was fatally injured, and the passenger sustained serious injuries. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight, and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed.
Pilot Information
The pilot, age 81, held a private pilot certificate with a single-engine land rating and a third-class medical certificate with restrictions including corrective lenses and hearing amplification. His total flight experience was estimated at 286 hours in single-engine airplanes, with 66 hours in Glastar GS-1 aircraft.
Aircraft Information
The high-wing, fixed tricycle landing gear airplane was kit-built by the pilot and issued an experimental airworthiness certificate in 2006. It was powered by a 135-horsepower Subaru EJ22 automotive engine with an NSI A30 gear reduction module driving an electrically operated NSI CAP model 200 two-blade composite controllable-pitch propeller. The airplane had an empty weight of 1,292 pounds and a maximum gross weight of 1,960 pounds.
Weather
At 0938, the Automated Surface Observation System at BAK reported calm wind, visibility 10 miles, clear skies, temperature 17°C, dew point 14°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.09 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact
The airplane was eastbound when it first struck a tree about 25 feet above ground level, then impacted the roof of a single-story house about 40 feet east of the tree. It penetrated the roof and ceiling, coming to rest upright with the nose partially outside the east exterior wall. The total distance from first impact to final rest was about 60 feet. The airplane was nearly consumed by fire, and the house also sustained extensive fire damage.
Communications
At 0925, N513GC requested departure from BAK for touch-and-go landings. At 0932, the tower cleared the airplane for takeoff from runway 23. No further transmissions were received. About 0933, other aircraft reported a crash south of BAK, and the airport firefighting crew responded immediately.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy was not performed on the pilot, and toxicology specimens were not available.
Post-Accident Examination
The propeller and gear reduction module were examined at an FAA certified repair station. The electric propeller pitch change motor was thermally damaged. No reverse pitch lockout spacer was installed, as recommended by the manufacturer. The propeller was found in the Beta (reverse) pitch position at approximately 5 degrees of reverse pitch. The NSI A30 module output shaft showed nonstandard construction, including use of spanner nuts instead of specified fasteners, and abnormal displacement of the sprag clutch elements.