History of Flight
On August 18, 2013, about 1930 Pacific daylight time, a Nelson KR2 amateur-built experimental airplane, N9028Q, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees and terrain about four miles west of Cataldo, Idaho. The airplane was operated by the pilot as a personal local flight under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot received fatal injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time. The flight departed Shoshone County Airport (KS83), Kellogg, Idaho, about 1900.
According to the local Sheriff's Office, witnesses observed the airplane spiraling toward the ground in the distance. Although they did not see the impact, they were concerned for the pilot's well-being. A search was initiated, and the wreckage was located by local residents and a law enforcement helicopter.
A video recording device found at the accident site was retained by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge for further examination.
Witnesses interviewed at Shoshone County Airport reported that on previous occasions the pilot had asked about airspace where he might practice spin recoveries or mild aerobatics. The accident area was near the local practice area. No pilot or airplane logbooks were discovered.
Personnel Information
The pilot, age 67, held a private pilot certificate with a rating for airplane single-engine land. He was issued a third-class FAA airman medical certificate without limitations on March 29, 2012. No personal flight records were discovered. According to FAA records, on his most recent medical certificate application, he indicated total aeronautical experience of about 305 hours, with 0 hours accrued in the previous 6 months.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was an experimental/amateur-built Nelson KR2, N9028Q, manufactured in 1980, and equipped with a Continental Motors A-75 series engine. No airframe or engine logbooks were discovered. The mechanic who performed the last required annual condition inspection provided documentation showing the inspection was completed on April 3, 2013, at which time the airplane had accrued 519.9 hours of total airframe flight/operating time.
Wreckage and Impact Information
On August 19, the wreckage was examined at the crash site by the NTSB IIC, accompanied by an FAA aviation safety inspector. The airplane had descended near vertically through dense trees and brush to impact with terrain, coming to rest upright on a moderately steep slope. The left wing and empennage were severed from the airplane, but the control cables remained intact, and control continuity was established. All major components, flight control surfaces, and structural members were present. The impact site was 40 to 50 feet in diameter.
Additional Information
On-board Video Recorder
During the wreckage examination, the IIC located a Contour Roam 2 video recorder in the wreckage. The camera was sent to the NTSB Vehicle Recorder Laboratory and was found undamaged, containing numerous video files. The two most recent files pertained to the accident flight. The recorder was mounted at the rear of the cabin, looking over the pilot's right shoulder.
FILE0005.mp4 (2 minutes 39 seconds) captured the pilot starting the airplane by hand propping; the pilot was outside the airplane. FILE0006.mp4 (3 hours 47 minutes) captured the accident flight from taxi to impact. The first part of the flight was uneventful, with turns and steep banked maneuvers. Upon reaching the accident area, the pilot initiated an intentional spin, throttling the engine to idle, pulling carburetor heat, and increasing the nose-up attitude until the airplane stalled and entered a spin to the left. During the first few rotations the engine quit, and the propeller stopped turning. After several rotations the spin stabilized about 20 degrees nose down and remained steady until impact. During the descent the pilot was observed attempting various control inputs without effect.
Airplane Design
The KR 2 was originally designed by Rand Robinson Engineering, with the prototype completed in late May 1974 and first flight on June 1, 1974. Airplanes are either plans- or kit-built, available in tailwheel retractable or tricycle fixed landing gear. Original design specifications called for a 1600 to 1700 cubic centimeter Volkswagen engine. Current manufacturing rights belong to nVAero, Mission Viejo, California.
Spin Characteristics
During a telephone conversation with the NTSB IIC on October 15, the owner of nVAero stated he was aware of the accident airplane and knew it was equipped with a Continental engine, which is heavier than the recommended VW engine. He stated he had spun other KR 2 airplanes, and the spin and recovery characteristics of "stock" airplanes (adhering closely to build specifications and engine recommendations) were similar to other low-wing light airplanes. Due to modifications on the accident airplane, he could not speak to its spin characteristics.
FAA Documents
The accident airplane's Special Airworthiness Certificate was issued on August 14, 2012. Prior to issuance, the builder must provide a statement of Experimental Operating Limitations for Phase I and Phase II flight test periods. The accident airplane's statement of limitations included aerobatic maneuvers for which the airplane had been test flown: wing-overs, rolls, and loops, but not spins. A spin is an aerobatic maneuver. A copy of the Operating Limitations is attached to the docket for this report.
Medical and Pathological Information
A postmortem examination of the pilot was performed under the authority of the Spokane County Medical Examiner on August 20, 2013. The examination revealed that the cause of death was blunt force injuries associated with an airplane accident. A toxicological examination by the FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute on September 19, 2013, was negative for alcohol and drugs.