History of Flight
On May 18, 2019, about 1245 eastern daylight time, a Vans RV6A experimental airplane, N596JB, departed Pickaway County Memorial Airport (CYO) in Circleville, Ohio, destined for Pike County Airport (EOP) in Waverly, Ohio. The flight was a personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane was destroyed in the accident and the pilot was fatally injured.
A witness near the accident site reported that the airplane's engine "slowed or stalled," then "refired" and subsequently "stalled" again. The witness observed the airplane in a left bank turn and stated that the engine sounded "wide open" until impact.
Personnel Information
The pilot held a third-class FAA medical certificate issued on February 6, 2017, with no limitations, which expired on February 28, 2019. According to FAA records, the pilot completed the BasicMed comprehensive medical examination checklist on December 13, 2017, and completed the BasicMed course on February 27, 2018, satisfying the BasicMed requirements. The pilot's logbook indicated a flight review was completed on April 24, 2019.
Aircraft Information
The accident airplane was a Vans RV6A experimental, amateur-built aircraft equipped with a full authority digital engine control (FADEC) system that controlled ignition spark and fuel mixture. According to the flight instructor who conducted the pilot's flight review, the pilot previously mentioned trouble with the engine ignition system but stated it was working properly at the time of the review. The flight instructor did not observe any ignition issues during the review.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The wreckage came to rest in a wooded area approximately 145° and 12 nautical miles from Ross County Airport (RZT). Fragments of the airplane were found in a tree trunk separated about 30 ft above ground level and in the branches of the upper portion of that tree. The rear fuselage and empennage rested about 57 ft and 70° from the separated tree, while the engine was about 33 ft and 70° from the tree. The engine cowling, canopy, wings, and forward fuselage were highly fragmented and scattered between the separated tree and the empennage. Tree leaves near the empennage appeared blighted.
Rudder cables were continuous from the rudder to the rear fuselage. Elevator control continuity was traced from its servo at the rear fuselage to the control surface. All flight control cable separations were consistent with overload. The engine control cable was fragmented and could not be traced. The engine speed sensor had minor damage. Engine disassembly revealed no preimpact anomalies.
Medical and Pathological Information
An autopsy performed by the Montgomery County Coroner's Office, Dayton, Ohio, listed the cause of death as multiple trauma. Toxicology testing by the FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory indicated putrefaction and ethanol presence in muscle, liver, and lung tissue, but no tested-for substances were detected in the liver.
Tests and Research
One of the FADEC master power controls (MPC) was destroyed; the other sustained minor damage. The damaged MPC and the speed sensor were sent to the engine manufacturer. The MPC was found operationally capable of producing spark at each spark plug tower. The speed sensor operated correctly when a metal target was moved near its sensors.