NTSB Factual Report

On October 7, 2013, about 1345 central daylight time, a Kenneth M. Franz Ultra Pup 2, N106KF, owned and operated by a private individual impacted terrain about 1 mile from the Grawunder Field Airport (06R), Bellville, Texas, following a loss of engine power after takeoff. The pilot, the sole person on board the airplane, was seriously injured. The airplane was substantially damaged. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 without a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.

The pilot reported that he'd just taken off from 06R when the airplane's engine began having problems. He told a Texas Highway Patrol officer that responded to the scene that his "motor was coming in and out on him." He made an attempt to return to the airport, but as he was making the turn, the airplane departed controlled flight. It impacted in a field just west of the airport.

At 1335, weather conditions at the Brenham Municipal Airport, Brenham Texas, 10 miles north of the accident site were wind 020 degrees at 4 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 80 degrees Fahrenheit (F), dew point 39 degrees F, and altimeter 30.13 inches of Mercury.

An examination of the airplane showed the airplane had impacted in the field in a nose low attitude. The airplane's right wing and main landing gear were separated from the fuselage. Two blades of the three-bladed propeller were broken off at the hub. Approximately 5 gallons of fuel was drained from the left wing, which was leaking fuel at the accident site. A representative of the company that recovered the airplane said about the same amount fuel was in the right wing. He said that the airplane holds 7 gallons of fuel in each wing.

The Federal government was shut down on October 1, 2013, and investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board and inspectors from the Federal Aviation Administration were furloughed. No follow on examinations of the airplane were conducted.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane's critical angle-of-attack while turning back to the airport instead of landing straight ahead following a partial loss of engine power, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control. The reason for the partial loss of engine power could be not determined based on the available information.