Mechanical & Engine Failure · NTSB CEN16FA307
WILSON BUGATTI-DEMONGE 100P — Burns Flat, OK
| Date | August 6, 2016 |
| Location | Burns Flat, OK |
| Aircraft | WILSON BUGATTI-DEMONGE 100P (amateur-built) |
| Purpose of flight | Flight Test |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Takeoff Powerplant sys/comp malf/fail |
| Pilot age | 66 |
| Pilot total time | 10,700 hrs · High time |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Airspeed-Not attained/maintained - C
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft power plant-(general)-(general)-Malfunction - F
- Not determined-Not determined-(general)-(general)-Unknown/Not determined - F
What happened
The airline transport pilot departed from a 13,500 ft long runway with a right quartering headwind present on a local test flight in an experimental, amateur-built, twin-engine airplane, which was a replica of a 1930s-era air racer. During the initial climb after takeoff , the airplane entered a right bank followed by a left bank. The left bank increased, and the airplane entered a nose-low descent that continued until it impacted terrain in an inverted attitude.
The airplane was equipped with several onboard cameras that captured video footage of the accident flight. The video revealed that the left/forward engine began surging after liftoff and reached its maximum operating speed (red line) twice during the short flight. Although the pilot attempted to control the forward engine rpm with the throttle lever, the throttle inputs had no apparent effect. Based on the design of the propeller drive train, it is a possibility that the forward engine clutch was slipping. The airplane's airspeed decreased below its design stall speed and the angle of attack increased; the airplane then rolled left and subsequently impacted the ground. A postaccident examination of the airplane did not reveal any preimpact flight control anomalies. Examination of the engines did not identify a reason for the surging of the forward engine or slipping of the clutch. The sequence of events as described by witness statements and the onboard video was consistent with a loss of airspeed following an engine anomaly and a subsequent aerodynamic stall.
Toxicological testing revealed alcohols were present in samples taken during the autopsy. Given the putrefaction of the samples, it is likely that all detected alcohols were the result of postmortem production.
Terrain from the accident site to one quarter mile north of the accident site was suitable for an emergency landing there.