Incident Overview
On November 12, 2013, at approximately 1200 central standard time, an unregistered Quad City Challenger I experimental light sport airplane struck terrain while returning to Winsted Municipal Airport (10D) in Winsted, Minnesota. The pilot, who was also the owner and operator, was not injured. The airplane suffered substantial damage to the left wing and fuselage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight was not operated under a flight plan. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.
Pilot Report
According to the pilot, the preflight inspection, engine run-up, and takeoff were normal. During the initial climb after takeoff, as he reduced engine power, he felt a vibration that he attributed to the engine or propeller. Further reduction in engine power did not eliminate the vibration. Initially, the pilot planned to attempt a downwind landing on the runway, but the ultralight was too high and too fast. He then decided to land in a soybean field north of the runway. While turning left at about 25 feet above ground level (agl) to align with the field, the ultralight began to lose airspeed. At approximately 8 feet agl, the aircraft inadvertently stalled and impacted the soybean field.
Postaccident Inspection
A postaccident examination found no anomalies with the engine or flight control systems that would have prevented normal operation. Consequently, the source of the reported vibration could not be identified.
Aircraft Classification and Certification
The pilot stated that he was operating the aircraft as an ultralight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 103. However, the airplane was equipped with a Rotax 503 engine, which, according to the manufacturer, disqualified it from ultralight operation. With this engine, the aircraft exceeded the weight and speed limits for ultralights and was required to be operated as an experimental light sport aircraft under 14 CFR Part 91. The accident airplane had not been issued airworthiness or registration certificates. The Quad City Challenger I could qualify as an ultralight under Part 103 only if equipped with a smaller, lower-power engine.
Additionally, Federal Aviation Administration inspectors learned from the pilot that no maintenance records existed for the aircraft, and no documentation of inspections or maintenance was provided.