Incident Overview
On April 30, 2016, at 1000 eastern daylight time, a Universal Stinson 108, registration N8660K, was substantially damaged during a landing accident at Calverton Executive Airpark (3C8), Calverton, New York. The private pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. The flight had departed Lufker Airport (49N) in East Moriches, New York, at 0930, destined for Westmoreland Airport (49NY) on Shelter Island, New York.
Sequence of Events
According to the pilot, during climbout at an altitude of approximately 1,200 feet mean sea level, the engine began to "miss" as though it had a partially fouled spark plug. He elected to perform a precautionary landing at 3C8 in order to address the issue on the ground. After touchdown, during the landing rollout, a wind gust lifted the right wing, causing the airplane to ground loop. The aircraft came to rest on the grass on the left side of runway 32.
Weather Information
Brookhaven Airport (HWV) in Shirley, New York, located about 7 miles southwest of the accident site, reported at 0956: wind variable at 5 knots, clear skies, and 10 statute miles visibility.
Runway and Wreckage Details
Runway 32 at 3C8 is constructed of asphalt and concrete, measuring 10,001 feet in length and 200 feet in width. An examination by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed that the left wing strut was bent, the left main landing gear had folded under the fuselage, the left wing tip was damaged, and the fuselage floor structure sustained substantial damage.
Previous Engine Performance and Fuel
The pilot stated that the engine had exhibited similar performance on previous occasions, which he corrected by performing an engine run-up. The airplane was fueled with automotive gasoline, for which it was approved under a supplemental type certificate (STC); however, the STC did not permit the use of automotive fuel containing ethanol. The FAA inspector reported that the pilot had been purchasing automotive fuel that contained ethanol and employed a "water shake" method in an attempt to remove the ethanol before transferring it to the airplane's fuel tanks.