What happened
On April 15, 2023, an experimental amateur-built Holland Travis E Velocity, registration N2357, was involved in a fatal accident near Andrews, North Carolina. The flight was being conducted as a private operation under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot, a commercial pilot, was fatally injured in the crash.
The aircraft had recently undergone modifications, including a new engine, propeller, and avionics, which had been inspected and endorsed by an FAA designated airworthiness representative on April 1, 2023. This flight was the first since that endorsement. The aircraft owner, who had limited experience in this specific model, had hired the pilot to perform the flight.
During takeoff from a 5,500-foot runway, video footage showed the aircraft accelerating slower than normal and using more runway than usual. The airplane lifted off in a nose-high attitude, descended back to the runway, and bounced before lifting off again near the end of the runway. While flying a left traffic pattern at approximately 300 feet above ground level, witnesses reported the engine sounded loud. The aircraft then descended into a wooded field, resulting in a post-impact fire.
The investigation
Investigators examined the wreckage, which was found inverted and consumed by fire. The engine had separated from the airframe. While the cylinders showed no anomalies and the crankshaft and camshaft were functional, the turbocharger was found with the wastegate in the open position. Examination of the turbocharger revealed thermal damage and a melted compressor side, though the compressor nut was found two threads loose.
Analysis of the engine's performance indicated that with the turbocharger engaged, the engine could produce 2,300 rpm, but if bypassed, it would only produce approximately 2,050 rpm. The owner noted that at 2,050 rpm, the aircraft would be unable to fly with a single pilot and a full fuel load, which was the condition of the aircraft during the accident takeoff.