Accident Overview
On May 10, 2014, at approximately 1342 eastern daylight time, an amateur-built Challenger II airplane, registration N824SH, crashed near Attica, Indiana, following a loss of control. The pilot, who was also the aircraft's owner and operator, sustained fatal injuries and the aircraft was destroyed. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from a private airstrip near Covington, Indiana at an unconfirmed time.
Pilot Information
The 72-year-old pilot held a private pilot certificate with a single-engine land airplane rating. His most recent medical examination was in November 1992, at which time he reported 235 total flight hours. Because the accident airplane met the definition of a Light Sport Airplane, the pilot was not required to hold a valid medical certificate; regulations allowed him to fly as a Light-Sport pilot as long as he had a valid driver's license and complied with 14 CFR 61.53, which prohibits operations during medical deficiency.
Aircraft Information
The accident airplane was an amateur-built, high-wing monoplane with tricycle landing gear and tandem seating. It was constructed primarily of aluminum with fabric covering. The engine was a Hirth model 2703, a 2-cylinder 2-cycle engine rated at 55 horsepower. According to FAA records, the pilot purchased the aircraft in 1992 and was not the original builder.
Meteorological Conditions
At 1254, weather recorded at Purdue University Airport in Lafayette, Indiana, about 15 miles northeast of the accident site, included wind variable at 3 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 21°C, dew point 5°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.96 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact
The aft fuselage and tail surfaces remained intact. The forward fuselage was crushed, and the tip of the right wing sustained crush damage. The left wing was intact and attached. Damage patterns were consistent with a right-wing-low, nose-low impact. Postaccident examination confirmed flight control continuity from the cockpit to all control surfaces. The engine could not be rotated by hand; a teardown examination attributed the inability to rotate to impact damage. No preimpact anomalies were found with the engine or the airframe. The aircraft had electronic engine instruments, but the manufacturer confirmed they had no recording capability. The airspeed indicator was marked for speeds from 40 to 340 mph; according to airworthiness documentation, stall speed was 32 mph and maximum speed was 105 mph.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy attributed the pilot's death to spinal cord disruption due to the accident. Toxicology testing, performed by the FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute, was negative for all substances in the screening profile.