Florida

On post-production test flight, pilot noted symptoms of uncommanded lean mixture and turned to return for landing. En route to airport, engine lost power completely. On base leg for forced landing (off airport) fire broke out in engine area and burned through hydraulic line causing gear to extend. Due to increased glide angle, planned flight path would not clear obstruction (Draw Bridge). When the pilot maneuvered to avoid the obstacle, the aircraft stalled, mushed and collided with a boat dock. Investigation revealed a loose fuel line fitting. The pilot, sole on board, was seriously injured.

The aircraft collided with trees and the ground during flight in adverse weather. There is no record of the pilot receiving a pre-flight briefing and no flight plan was filed. Witnesses heard an aircraft flying low followed by a loud thud. About 16 miles north at Sarasota, FL, the 2128 est weather was: 200 feet partial obscuration, visibility 3 miles with fog. Persons in the vicinity of the accident stated that the area had heavy, patchy ground fog. All four occupants were killed.

The aircraft crashed while on an ILS approach to the Gainsville Airport. Investigation revealed that the pilot had advised approach control that he was 'low on fuel.' After two missed approaches the pilot radioed that he was 'out of fuel.' The pilot did not have charts or approach plates aboard the aircraft, however ATC was not aware of this factor. Attempts to acquire additional information from the pilot have been unsuccessful. All three occupants escaped with minor injuries.

The aircraft collided with trees and the ground during takeoff in IMC weather. The visibility was zero due to ground fog. There were no known witnesses to the accident but there was evidence of a collision with a 60 feet high tree at the end of the 3,000 feet runway. It was not determined whether the pilot used all of the runway. After the collision with the tree the aircraft hit the ground in a left bank and cartwheeled. Both occupants were killed.

The aircraft was on its first production flight test. Shortly after lift-off it was observed to enter an abrupt right bank, followed by a steep left bank before crashing. Examination of the left wing revealed that its aileron cables were connected to their respective bellcrank attach points backwards. Both pilots were killed.

The aircraft disappeared from radar coverage while in cruise flight at 10,000 feet msl near Orangeville, FL. The ATC transcript revealed that the pilot had been inquiring about the weather ahead of him and was cleared to descend to 6,000 feet in order to get below strong headwinds. One minute later he transmitted that he was going to stay at 10,000 feet because he did not have any choice (strong turbulence). His last transmission stated the weather was getting worse. The aircraft has not been located.

The aircraft crashed in the water in an isolated area of the Florida Bay while in a near inverted, left wing low, nose down attitude and at a high rate of descent with slow forward speed. The landing gear were down and locked, and the flaps were extended about 10°. Examination of the cargo door revealed evidence to suggest that it was not hinged to the aircraft during impact. The purpose of the flight is still under investigation by other gov't agencies. The passenger was seriously injured and the pilot was killed.

Several days prior, a fam flight was intended in the aircraft to be given to the pilot by another person who represented himself as a pilot. The flight was cancelled due to a problem with the left engine. On the day of the accident, the other person told the pilot that the engine was repaired and they proceeded to conduct a local test flight with the other person conducting the takeoff from the left seat. They reportedly switched seats prior to landing. The approach appeared normal until just prior to landing. A burst of sound from the engines was heard and the aircraft yawed and rolled left. The left wing impacted the ground and the aircraft cartwheeled. The last logbook entry was in 10/82. The owner could not be located. The other pilot could not be located and there is no record of him being issued a pilot's certificate. During teardown of the left engine the servo fuel injector was found rigged extremely lean at the idle stop.

The aircraft crashed while maneuvering at low airspeed and altitude right after takeoff. The pilot said the left engine started losing power intermittently at 90 knots. The pilot had rotated the aircraft and tried to continue the takeoff. He was cleared to land on any runway and in attempting a turn with landing gear and partial flaps extended control was lost and a crash occurred. The aircraft flight manual states that if an engine fails below 105 mph the takeoff should be aborted. An on scene examination revealed no evidence to suggest a pre-impact failure or malfunction. Both propellers showed evidence of torsional overload damage. When the engines were further examined the left engine fuel strainer was partially clogged with dirt. During a run-up test the left engine would not develop more than 23 inches hg. At 2,750 rpm and magneto rpm drop was erratic. The engine would not run with the aux fuel boost pump off. The reason for the low power output was a disconnected pressure line for the turbocharger which appeared to have been disconnected for some time. All five occupants were injured, two of them seriously.

While on an over water flight, both engines lost power and the pilot ditched the aircraft at sea. Before ditching, the pilot reported that the aircraft was out of fuel, the ATC controller contacted a US Coast Guard helicopter that was on his frequency and requested assistance. The helicopter was flown to the ditching area and the downed personnel were rescued.