History of Flight
At 1140 eastern standard time on December 3, 2017, an experimental amateur-built Titan Tornado II D, registration N2200T, impacted terrain while on final approach for landing at Portage County Airport (POV) in Ravenna, Ohio. The sport pilot sustained fatal injuries, and the airplane was destroyed by impact forces. The airplane was owned by the pilot and operated as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight had departed POV about 1110.
The sole witness reported that the pilot stopped by the witness's hangar before the flight, remarking that it was a beautiful day to go flying. The witness observed the takeoff from runway 27, describing a 'Learjet style' climb with a high rate of climb. The airplane then proceeded south and disappeared from view. About 30 minutes later, the witness saw the airplane on final approach for runway 27. During the approach, the airplane was 'coming down normally and regularly' before the engine noise 'suddenly stop' and the engine went 'silent.' Approximately 10 seconds later, about 1 mile from the approach end of runway 27, the airplane began 'acting erratically.' It banked right, then immediately left, then right again before descending from about 500 ft above ground level into the ground. The witness noted the descent was 'steep' but not straight down.
Pilot Information
The pilot held a sport pilot certificate, as well as repairman-experimental aircraft builder and repairman-light sport aircraft certificates. His logbook was not available for review. He did not hold an FAA airman medical certificate and was not required to as a sport pilot. Aircraft registration records showed the pilot purchased the airplane on September 10, 2016. The witness estimated the pilot had accumulated about 10 hours in the airplane since purchase.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The wreckage was located behind a house about 0.8 mile east of runway 27. Ground scarring matched the airplane's dimensions, and the airplane was in a nose-down attitude. The wings, elevators, rudder, and their control surfaces were attached and secure. The propeller was attached and secure to the engine, which remained attached to the airframe. Neither propeller blade showed damage, and there was no evidence of fire or sooting. The instrument panel was destroyed.
Flight control continuity was established from control surfaces to cockpit controls, and engine control continuity was confirmed. The 15-gallon fuel tank contained an estimated 1 gallon of liquid consistent with fuel, with no contamination. Fuel valves from tank to engine were open.
The airplane was equipped with an Adventure Pilot iFly 720 GPS unit (SD card removed) and MGL electronic flight instruments, but no recordable data from the accident flight was retrieved. The last data log from the iFly 720 was from October 21, 2017. The MGL units did not record data.
The engine, a Jabiru 2200 (serial number 22A3748), was tested at Arion Aircraft in Shelbyville, Tennessee, under FAA supervision. It started and ran smoothly for about 5 to 10 minutes before the test was discontinued.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy performed by the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office reported the cause of death as blunt impact injuries. Toxicology testing by the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory identified Losartan in the liver, a prescription medication for high blood pressure not considered impairing. Tests for ethanol and carbon monoxide were negative.
Tests and Research
Advisory Circular AC 90-109A, Transition to Unfamiliar Aircraft, provides guidance on training and risk mitigation for various airplane types. According to Appendix 2, the Titan Tornado II is categorized as a low-inertia and/or high-drag airplane. Appendix 4 defines such airplanes as those that rapidly lose energy (airspeed and/or altitude) when power is lost or reduced. It also notes hazards including a susceptibility to unintentional stalls due to significant airspeed decay with increased load factor and a low cruise speed to stall speed margin.