Accident Overview
On December 11, 2023, at about 1850 central standard time, a Van's Aircraft RV-6A, registration N113DT, was substantially damaged in an accident at the Searcy Municipal Airport (SRC) in Searcy, Arkansas. The pilot and pilot-rated passenger sustained minor injuries. The flight was conducted as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight test.
Background
The pilot-rated passenger, an airframe and powerplant mechanic with inspection authorization, reported that the pilot requested his presence on a flight test following replacement of the No. 1 cylinder. The engine run-up was uneventful except for a brief "stumble" when switching the magnetos to the electronic magnetos. The pilot assured him that the engine response was normal.
Flight Sequence
The pilot reported departing runway 19 at SRC and flying to Woodruff County Airport (M60) in Augusta, Arkansas. The passenger stated that the airplane performed unremarkably during the flight to M60 except for a brief rpm stumble when the throttle was retarded to 1,500 rpm. After one landing at M60, they returned to SRC.
The pilot performed two landings at SRC. After the second landing, he intended to taxi to parking, but the passenger asked to take the airplane around the traffic pattern. The pilot agreed. The pilot stated that the traffic pattern flight was satisfactory until the passenger turned onto final approach, at which point they were too low and slow. The pilot instructed him to perform a go-around.
Go-Around and Impact
The passenger pushed the throttle fully forward, and the nose yawed left. The left wingtip and left tire contacted the runway. The passenger pulled back on the yoke, and the airplane bounced back into the air. The left wing then impacted the precision approach path indicator (PAPI) lights. The pilot told the passenger to land, but the passenger replied that he could save it. The pilot reported that the airplane stalled, impacted the ground on the main landing gear, skidded about 20 feet, and flipped over. The airplane came to rest inverted in a field next to the runway.
Damage and Examination
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident examination revealed no preimpact anomalies.
Passenger Account
The passenger reported that he does not remember flying the airplane. His last memory before the ambulance ride was flying back to SRC from M60.