History of Flight
On June 26, 2015, about 1830 eastern standard time, a homebuilt Europa XL airplane, registration N149RS, impacted terrain in a soybean field near Beloit, Ohio. The airplane was operated by Sancap Aircraft Inc. 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 Tri-City Airport (3G6), Sebring, Ohio, at an unknown time.
A witness at the airport observed the pilot taxiing with the canopy open before departing to the north from runway 35. Another individual discovered the wreckage about half a mile from the airport at approximately 1837.
Personnel Information
The pilot held a private pilot certificate with ratings for single-engine and multi-engine land airplanes, as well as instrument and glider ratings. A third-class medical certificate was issued on June 1, 2011, with a restriction requiring glasses for near vision, and it expired on June 30, 2013. The pilot was eligible to fly under light sport pilot rules. On the last medical application, the pilot reported 1,820 total flight hours, with 6 hours in the previous six months. The pilot's logbook was not recovered, and recent flight experience could not be determined.
Aircraft Information
The Europa XL was a low-wing, single-engine composite aircraft with fixed landing gear, assembled from a kit and certified in the Experimental–Amateur Built category on May 19, 2005. It was powered by a four-cylinder Rotax 912S reciprocating engine driving an electrically actuated Air Master AP332 full-feathering constant-speed propeller. The aircraft was configured as a traditional airplane. Maintenance records were not located; a maintenance person reported helping the owner with an oil and filter change and, in the previous year, replacement of the fuel pump, fuel lines, and nose gear bungees.
Meteorological Information
At 1851, the automated weather observation at Akron-Canton Regional Airport, about 20 miles west of the accident site, recorded wind from 050 degrees at 6 knots, 10 miles visibility, an overcast ceiling at 15,000 feet, temperature 75°F, dew point 60°F, and barometric pressure 29.97 inches of mercury.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane came to rest on its belly and landing gear about 10 feet from an impact crater, consistent with an inverted, near-vertical impact. Several pieces separated but remained near the site. Both wings were attached, with impact damage to the outer leading edges. The cockpit and engine compartment were severely crushed; the empennage sustained minor damage. The three-bladed composite propeller remained attached to the hub, but two blades were broken off at the hub, and the third broke about 12 inches from the hub. A fuel odor was reported, but there was no post-crash fire. The emergency locator transmitter was found in the off position.
Control continuity was established for ailerons, elevator, and rudder, though rod end bearings on aileron and elevator controls broke due to impact. Flaps appeared extended but had separated from the linkage. Fuel lines separated near the cabin; inline fuel filters contained small unknown contaminants but tested negative for water. The engine could not be rotated by hand; continuity was established through the valve train. The PSRU gearbox showed damage consistent with rotation at impact. Spark plugs had light colored combustion deposits. No pre-impact abnormalities were noted.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy conducted by the Mahoning County Coroner's Office determined the cause of death as multiple blunt force injuries. Toxicological testing by the FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory detected Irbesartan, a medication for high blood pressure, in the pilot's blood and urine; specimens were negative for carbon monoxide and ethanol. The pilot had a history of severe coronary artery disease treated with multi-vessel bypass surgery, stents, and medication. A cardiac catheterization had shown 90 percent occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery. The autopsy identified multi-vessel coronary artery disease with up to 70 percent occlusion and metal stents in the right coronary artery with areas of up to 70 percent occlusion. The autopsy report listed coronary artery disease and chronic hypertension as contributing factors to the cause of death.