NTSB Factual Report

On May 24, 2001, approximately 1905 central daylight time, an Blucher KR-2S amateur built tail-wheel equipped airplane, N197DB, was destroyed when it impacted the ground following a loss of engine power and aircraft control while maneuvering near Wichita Falls, Texas. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from the Wichita Valley Airport, Wichita Falls, Texas, at an undetermined time.

According to the FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, a witness reported that the airplane was in a "steep climb and high bank angle" when the engine lost power. Witnesses traveling east along Highway 287 reported observing the accident airplane spiraling nose down until ground impact.

An examination of the accident site by the FAA inspector revealed that the airplane impacted the ground "relatively flat" on a magnetic heading of 180 degrees. The cockpit was crushed flat, and the tail was separated aft of the cockpit. Both main landing gear were displaced upward into their respective wings. The fuselage fuel tank and both wing fuel tanks were empty. The fuselage fuel tank was compromised, and the fuel lines to the wing fuel tanks were fractured; however, the ground under the wreckage was dry and there was no odor of fuel. Flight control continuity was established.

A law enforcement officer and emergency medical service personnel, who responded to the accident site, reported that there was an odor of fuel when they arrived on scene. According to a fuel receipt, the airplane was fueled on the day of the accident at the Wichita Valley Airport with 6.39 gallons of fuel, at 1633.

The private pilot was a member of the United States Air Force and was stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base, Wichita Falls. According to FAA records, the pilot was issued a private pilot certificate on October 27, 2000. The FAA inspector reported that the pilot had logged a total of 62 flight hours, of which 5 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane.

The 1997-model Blucher KR-2S experimental homebuilt airplane was a low wing, single-engine, two-place airplane, which had fixed landing gear. It was powered by a Subaru 98TB water-cooled engine, and a two-bladed, fixed pitch wooden propeller. The airplane was registered to the pilot on May 1, 2001. According to the Air Force Liaison, after the pilot purchased the airplane, while he was returning it to Wichita Falls, the engine had "quit." The Liaison stated that there were two other instances where the engine "cut out on the pilot."

Examination of the airplane's maintenance records by the NTSB investigator-in-charge, revealed that the last condition inspection was completed on April 10, 2001, at an aircraft total time of 116.0 hours. At the time of this inspection, the engine timing was checked, the ignition power wires replaced, the fuel outlet pressure adjusted to 4.5 psi, and a new Hobbs meter installed. The review of the airframe and engine records did not reveal evidence of any anomalies or uncorrected maintenance defects. At the time of the accident, the airplane had a total time of 131.8 hours.

An autopsy was performed on the pilot by the Southwestern Institute Of Forensic Sciences, Dallas, Texas. There was no evidence found of any preexisting disease that could have contributed to the accident. Toxicological testing on the pilot, performed by the FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for carbon monoxide, cyanide, alcohol, and drugs were negative.

NTSB Probable Cause

the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control following a loss of engine power while maneuvering, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin. Contributing factors to the accident were the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, and the pilot's lack of total experience in the make and model of the accident airplane.