Accident Overview
On June 8, 2014, about 1540 central daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Steen Skybolt, registration N863SB, suffered a loss of engine power during initial climb and struck the runway at a private airstrip near Chapmansboro, Tennessee. The private pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and firewall. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
Pilot Actions
The pilot reported performing a preflight inspection with no anomalies noted. He sumped the fuel tanks and found no debris. He added about 5 gallons of fuel, bringing the tanks to approximately one-quarter full, which he considered adequate for the intended 15- to 20-minute flight. The pilot activated the fuel boost pump to start the engine but did not use it after the engine started. After taxiing to runway 20, an engine run-up indicated everything was normal.
During the initial climb, about 200 feet above ground level and over the departure end of the runway, the pilot noticed the engine was not producing full power. He elected to return and performed a 180-degree turn. Once aligned with the runway centerline, he attempted to add power, but the engine did not respond. The airplane impacted the runway, and a post-impact fire ensued.
Witness Accounts
Witnesses reported that the airplane departed the airstrip to the south. The engine ran fine until the end of the runway, then began to run rough. The airplane was about 300 feet above ground level when it lost partial power, and the pilot initiated a turn back to the runway. As the airplane neared the runway, the pilot flared too high, the airplane stalled, descended, impacted the grass strip, and a post-impact fire occurred.
Aircraft Examination
A postaccident examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that the airplane initially impacted the ground approximately 100 feet from where it came to rest on the turf runway. The fuselage, wings, and empennage were consumed by fire. The engine remained attached to the fuselage through the engine mounts.
The airplane is a single-place, welded tube fuselage, wooden wing biplane with conventional landing gear. FAA records show it was assembled in 2000 and registered to the pilot/owner in 2008. It was equipped with a Continental Motors, Inc. IO-470-L21B, 260 horsepower engine. The pilot reported that maintenance records were consumed by the post-impact fire. A mechanic who assisted with maintenance indicated the engine had accumulated about 800 hours since overhaul.
Weather
The automated weather observation at Outlaw Field Airport (CKV), Clarksville, Tennessee, located 22 miles northwest of the accident location, included wind from 360 degrees at 8 knots, visibility 10 miles, clouds broken at 4,000 feet above ground level, temperature 27 degrees Celsius, dew point 16 degrees Celsius, and an altimeter setting of 29.94 inches of mercury.
Engine Examination
On June 12, 2014, the engine was examined by a manufacturer representative under FAA supervision. The engine, fuel system, and ignition system components were heavily fire damaged, precluding functional testing. However, crankshaft and camshaft continuity was obtained from the propeller flange back to the accessory section and out to the rocker arms and valves. The engine control cables remained attached to the engine, although the support structure was consumed by fire. Overall, the inspection did not reveal any anomalies that would have prevented normal operation and production of rated horsepower. A detailed field inspection report is available in the public docket.