Accident Overview
On September 28, 2015, at approximately 0825 central daylight time, a kit-built Rans S-12 experimental light sport airplane, registration N98ES, collided with terrain while maneuvering to land at Gardner Municipal Airport (K34) in Gardner, Kansas. The private pilot sustained serious injuries, and the airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight operated without a flight plan. The local flight had departed K34 shortly before the accident.
Witness Observations
A witness, who was a private rated pilot, observed the accident airplane taxi from its hangar to runway 8/26. He subsequently heard a sound consistent with the engine increasing in revolutions per minute (rpm), followed by a decrease in rpm. The witness saw the airplane gliding toward runway 17 before it began to pitch up slowly. He then observed the airplane stall and roll into a left turning spin with the nose pointed toward the ground. The airplane impacted the terrain in a near vertical attitude before coming to rest.
Pilot Report
The pilot stated that he departed from runway 26. Shortly after takeoff, the engine stopped producing power. He nosed the airplane down and maneuvered to avoid a ditch. During the descent, he leveled off to avoid impacting the ground at a steep angle. He recalled that after the crash, he could not find the master switch and could not turn off the right fuel shutoff, so he closed only the left fuel shutoff valve.
Post-Accident Examination
Inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration examined the airplane. The forward portion of the fuselage and cockpit area was crushed and distorted. Both wings were twisted near their outboard ends. The flaps were retracted. The left fuel tank contained over 7.5 gallons of fuel, and the right tank contained about 5 gallons of fuel. Both fuel lines appeared to contain fuel with no visible contaminants. The left fuel switch was off, and the right fuel switch was on; both fuel filters were clear of debris. The "ignition 1" switch was off, and the "ignition 2" switch was on; however, there was damage to the switch housing near the "ignition 1" switch.
Subsequent Engine and Fuel System Tests
The pilot reported that in May 2016, the engine was examined and started. During a test run, fuel delivery to the engine was restricted, and the engine only produced about 50 percent power. When external fuel was fed to the engine, it ran normally. In June 2016, the wing was removed, and the fuel tanks were examined. The right fuel tank and sump contained residue consistent with grass.