History of Flight
On December 15, 2020, about 2300 central standard time, a Rans S-12XL, N449JP, was involved in an accident near Port Isabel, Texas. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The noncertificated pilot, who was also the owner, and a flight instructor were fatally injured. A student pilot who had flown with the instructor earlier that day reported that after landing at Port Isabel-Cameron County Airport (PIL), the instructor walked to a hangar and met two men, including the noncertificated pilot. The student observed them moving the accident airplane out of the hangar around 1540. An alert notice was issued when the airplane became overdue; it was later located about half a mile south of runway 35 at PIL. No witnesses reported seeing the accident.
Personnel Information
The flight instructor’s only logbook entry for flight in the accident airplane was dated December 9, 2020, recording a 1.0-hour flight. The instructor’s most recent logbook entry, dated December 14, 2020, was for a flight in a Cessna 172.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was originally issued Operating Limitations for Light Sport Aircraft on December 15, 2009, indicating it was equipped with a Rotax 582 engine. However, at the time of the accident, the installed engine was a Rotax 670 (serial number 4088286), a snowmobile engine, with an engine logbook entry from November 18, 2014, stating it was “custom built by Rotax Rick.” This installation was a major change to the airplane, and no record existed in the FAA airworthiness file or aircraft logs of a required flight test under Part 91.319. The airplane was not equipped with a stall warning system or angle-of-attack indicator, nor was it required to have them. Advisory Circular 90-109A categorizes the Rans S-12 as a low-inertia and/or high-drag airplane, noting that such airplanes rapidly lose energy when engine power is reduced.
According to the flight instructor’s life partner, the instructor flew the accident airplane alone about one to two weeks before the accident. After that flight, he tried to persuade the pilot to purchase an “actual” airplane, stating he considered the airplane dangerous, especially for inexperienced pilots and in less-than-perfect conditions.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The airplane came to rest in a nose-down attitude, and damage was consistent with a low-speed impact with terrain. Substantial damage occurred to the wings and fuselage. No ground scarring preceded the wreckage location. All components were at the accident site, and flight controls and control surfaces were intact and connected. Examination of the engine revealed that the magneto-side cylinder had disintegrated due to detonation, and both cylinder walls were scored. The reason for the detonation could not be determined. Fuel was present in the engine’s carburetor bowls, but the total amount of fuel onboard at the time of the accident was unknown due to spillage from the aircraft’s resting attitude.
Communications
No air traffic control communications or services were provided to the airplane.
Medical and Pathological Information
Autopsies determined that both the instructor pilot and the noncertificated pilot died from blunt force trauma due to the aircraft crash, with the manner of death classified as accident. Toxicology testing for the instructor was negative for drugs and alcohol. For the noncertificated pilot, testing detected Duloxetine, Metaxalone, cetirizine, and Chlorthalidone in blood and urine.