Accident Details
On June 13, 2024, at about 1210 mountain daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Breezy aircraft, registration N409WC, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Albuquerque, New Mexico. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, received minor injuries. The flight was conducted as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight, specifically to accumulate flight hours on the airframe as part of its Phase I flight testing.
Flight and Sequence of Events
The pilot reported that shortly after takeoff from runway 4 at Double Eagle II Airport (AEG) in Albuquerque, while at approximately 100 ft above ground level, the engine began running rough. The pilot attempted to troubleshoot the issue but was unable to restore engine power. He then attempted to land on an adjacent taxiway. During a left turn toward the runway, the left wing dipped into a steep bank. The pilot corrected the bank, but the left wing dipped a second time. While trying to correct the steep bank, the airplane impacted a dirt field, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing, right horizontal stabilizer, and fuselage. The pilot stated that he shut down the engine before egressing the airplane.
Post-Accident Examination
The wreckage was recovered to a secure location and examined. Dirt was found in the air intake and carburetor air inlet. All eight spark plugs exhibited carbon fouling. An engine compression check revealed that the No. 1 cylinder compression measured 80/10. The No. 1 cylinder valve cover was removed, and the exhaust lash adjustment screw jam nut was found loose under the intake valve spring retainer. The No. 1 cylinder was removed, and the oil control ring was found stuck in the ring land. There were rub marks on both the piston and cylinder walls. No additional anomalies were noted during the examination of the airframe and engine.
According to the airplane’s maintenance logs, the engine was overhauled about three years before the accident and had accumulated about 31 hours since overhaul at the time of the accident. The most recent condition inspection was completed on August 4, 2023.