Accident Overview
On January 15, 2022, at about 0955 Hawaii-Aleutian standard time, a Flight Design CTLS light sport airplane, registration N992SA, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain near Hana, Hawaii. The pilot sustained serious injuries, and the pilot-rated passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Pilot Report
The pilot reported that he and the passenger had performed several touch-and-go landings before departing for their destination. During the accident takeoff, the airplane performed normally until reaching about 75 ft above ground level, at which point the pilot noted that the airplane had “no power to climb” and was “sinking.” The airplane descended into trees and struck the ground in a near-vertical attitude just beyond the departure end of the runway.
Witness Observations
Two pilot-rated witnesses stated that they heard no unusual sounds from the airplane. They observed the airplane in an “unusually high” nose-up attitude during the takeoff. The pilot-rated passenger reported that the pilot pitched the airplane “higher than he needed” and maintained that high pitch attitude until the airplane descended into the trees.
Flight Data Analysis
The engine monitoring system (Dynon EMS-D120) was removed and sent to the NTSB Recorders Laboratory for data download. The data indicated that about 40 seconds before impact, engine RPM increased from idle to maximum and remained at maximum until the end of the recording.
Engine Examination
A postaccident examination of the engine was conducted by an accident investigator from the engine manufacturer, with oversight from an FAA inspector. The examination revealed that all spark plugs appeared normal with no anomalies. The carburetor main jet was clear of obstruction, and the floats were within weight limitation. The fuel shutoff was operational, and no obstructions were observed in the fuel lines. All rocker arms, valves, and valve springs were intact and operated normally. No anomalies were seen with the exhaust system. The gearbox was in good condition, and the propeller shaft rotated smoothly. Continuity was established with the crankshaft when the engine was rotated. Thumb compression was observed in all cylinders.
Damage
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and wings.