Accident Overview
On November 29, 2014, at approximately 1230 central standard time, an experimental, amateur-built Rans S-14 airplane was destroyed by impact forces during a loss of control while landing at Kewanee Municipal Airport (EZI) in Kewanee, Illinois. The sport pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained serious injuries. The airplane was not registered with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed. The flight had departed EZI about 1200 for a local flight.
Sequence of Events
The airport manager reported observing the airplane flying at EZI. During the first landing attempt on runway 19, the pilot performed a go-around. On the second approach, the manager saw the airplane on final at about 100 feet above ground level (agl), flying slowly with a nose-up pitch of 1 to 2 degrees. The airplane then dropped straight down while maintaining a wings-level attitude. The manager lost sight of it at about 50 feet agl as it descended behind a hill. The airplane impacted a cornfield roughly a quarter-mile from the approach end of runway 19.
The pilot stated that he had recently acquired the pusher-type airplane and that this was his first flight in any pusher aircraft. On the day of the accident, he conducted numerous taxi tests over three hours. During the last taxi run, he decided to take off and fly the traffic pattern. On the first approach, he was too high and executed a go-around. On the next approach, at about 100 feet agl, he reduced engine power for landing, and the airplane “fell out of the sky.” He reported the engine was running normally before the power reduction.
Aircraft Damage and Examination
The airplane struck the ground in a nearly flat attitude, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The initial impact point was about 50 feet from the main wreckage. The fuselage and cockpit showed downward crushing, while the wings had no leading-edge damage. All three propeller blades exhibited damage.
Regulatory Context
Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 103 specifies that airplanes with an empty weight exceeding 254 pounds, fuel capacity over 5 U.S. gallons, level-flight full-power airspeed over 55 knots, or power-off stall speed over 24 knots are not considered ultralight and must be registered. The specifications for a Rans S-14 include an empty weight of 390 pounds, a 9-gallon fuel tank, a cruise speed of 90 mph, and a stall speed of 38 mph, placing it outside the ultralight category and requiring FAA registration.
The pilot did not hold a valid pilot certificate; the airplane was not registered. The accident investigation did not determine a probable cause.