SACKMAN SACKMAN SPECIAL

Full Narrative

On August 11, 2012, about 1330 central daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Sackman Sackman Special biplane, impacted high vegetation and terrain during a forced landing following a loss of engine power on climbout from the Ste. Genevieve Flying Club Airport (6MO2), near Ste. Genevieve, Missouri. The sport pilot, who was the sole occupant, was not injured. The biplane sustained substantial fuselage and wing damage. The biplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed for the flight, which did not operate on a flight plan. The local flight originated from 6MO2 at time unknown.

According to the pilot’s accident report, the pilot flew the airplane from 6MO2 and performed three or four wingovers. He flew a low approach with the airplane from north to south down the departure runway. At midfield, he applied full power, started a climb, and the engine began to lose power. The pilot indicated that he pushed the nose over about 50 feet above ground level and started a right turn to return to the runway. The airplane descended during the turn and impacted a cornfield near the runway threshold. The airplane nosed over during the contact with the corn.

A postaccident examination of the engine by the builder/pilot attributed the loss of engine power due to oil starvation. The reason for the loss of oil could not be determined. The builder/pilot’s safety recommendation was to monitor gauges more often and install a low oil pressure warning light.

At 1335, the recorded weather about 58 degrees and 18 miles from the accident site at the Sparta Community Airport-Hunter Field, near Sparta, Illinois, was: Wind calm; visibility 10 statute miles; sky condition clear; temperature 27 degrees C; dew point -11 degrees C; altimeter 30.02 inches of mercury.