History of Flight
On December 13, 2014, at about 1340 eastern standard time, an experimental amateur-built Renegade Spirit, registration N955R, was involved in an accident shortly after takeoff from Malcom McKinnon Airport (SSI) in Brunswick, Georgia. The airplane impacted a residence and sustained substantial damage. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a local personal flight in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was filed.
A witness who had been working with the pilot on the airplane reported that the pilot had been experiencing engine trouble. On the day of the accident, the witness heard the engine start, then cough and shut down. The pilot stated the idle was too high and also mentioned brake problems that made stopping difficult during taxi tests. After adjusting the carburetor, the pilot decided to taxi to the runway and possibly fly, despite the witness's advice against it due to inconsistent engine operation and faulty brakes. The pilot believed he could cut the engine to stop if needed and that the runway was long enough.
The witness observed the airplane taxi to runway 22 with the engine hesitating and coughing. During takeoff, the airplane became airborne, settled back onto the runway, and became airborne again. It barely cleared trees at the runway end and entered a left turn before disappearing from view.
Another witness near the accident site reported the airplane seemed to attempt a turn back to the airport or land in a field, but then entered a steep descent and impacted a house. A third witness, also a pilot, heard the engine cut off, saw an aggressive left turn at about 200 ft above ground level, and then the airplane lost altitude and dropped as if it had stalled.
Personnel Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with a single-engine land rating. His most recent FAA third-class medical certificate was issued in October 2012, on which he reported 3,640 total flight hours with no hours in the preceding 6 months. His logbooks were not recovered.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was manufactured in 1995 and originally equipped with a Formula Power Subaru EA-81 engine. The pilot purchased it in 2011 and had never flown it since, according to an acquaintance. The pilot had replaced the original engine with a Continental A65 and subsequently replaced the carburetor on that engine. The engine had never run correctly since installation. The Hobbs meter read 6.4 hours, which the acquaintance stated was accumulated during ground and taxi tests. No maintenance records or operating limitations were found, and it could not be determined if the airplane had a current condition inspection.
Meteorological Information
At 1353, the weather observation at SSI reported wind from 210° at 4 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 18°C, dew point 0°C, and an altimeter setting of 30.11 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The FAA inspector reported that the airplane appeared to descend almost straight down in a flat, upright attitude and came to rest against a house about 1,000 ft southeast of the approach end of runway 4. Trees around the house showed no damage. The forward fuselage from the instrument panel forward was destroyed. The engine separated from the airframe and lay at the front of the wreckage. One propeller blade was sheared off, the other split in half. Fuel leaked from the left upper wing tank, saturating the ground. Flight control continuity was confirmed from the cockpit to the control surfaces. The engine was rotated by hand with continuity and compression on all cylinders; magnetos showed no anomalies, and fuel lines were unobstructed.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy performed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation listed the cause of death as craniocerebral injuries due to the aircraft accident. Toxicological testing detected amlodipine, bisoprolol, trimethoprim in blood and urine, and salicylate in urine. These medications are not impairing.