Accident Summary
On August 3, 2022, about 1010 central daylight time, a Vans RV-10 airplane, registration N255CP, was substantially damaged when it landed hard in a bean field near Hurst, Illinois. The pilot, who was also the owner, was not injured. The airplane was operating as a post-maintenance test flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Pilot and Aircraft Information
The pilot reported that he had completed an annual inspection and engine condition inspection on July 20, 2022, and intended to perform a test flight before selling the airplane. An extensive engine ground run revealed no anomalies. After takeoff, the pilot climbed to 8,500 ft mean sea level (about 8,100 ft above ground level) and flew for several minutes, confirming all instruments showed normal indications. He then reduced engine power and began a slow descent to 3,000 ft msl (2,600 ft agl). When leveling off and advancing the throttle, the engine began running rough. The pilot applied carburetor heat and turned on the fuel boost pump, but the roughness did not improve.
Emergency Landing and Post-Accident Actions
Unable to glide to a nearby grass strip, the pilot maneuvered for an emergency landing. The airplane landed hard in a bean field and came to rest upright. After the accident, the left fuel tank contained 9 gallons of fuel and the right tank about 19 gallons; the carburetor bowl also contained fuel. Before Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors could examine the airplane, the pilot had moved it to a hangar, removed the engine cowling, drained the fuel tanks, checked the carburetor bowl, and pulled the ignition leads and spark plugs.
Additional Findings
The pilot stated he could not recall exactly when the engine stopped running, but that the propeller stopped rotating about 300 ft agl and he did not shut down the engine. The airplane had not been flown for about a year, and the fuel in the tanks was from the last flight. A new carburetor had been installed in June 2021 because the pilot previously experienced similar engine issues resulting in a loss of power, which he attributed to carburetor icing. The airplane was equipped with a Dynon electronic flight instrument system, and its recorded data was provided for the investigation. The operating environment was conducive to carburetor icing at glide and cruise power.
Investigation Status
The airplane was not made available for a detailed examination, and the pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1.