N749GB

On April 25, 2005, about 0956 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Nieuport C-1, N749GB, registered to a private individual, collided with a powerline then crashed in a field near Richards Field Airport, Homestead, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal, local flight from Richards Field Airport. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was seriously injured. The flight originated about 0951, from Richards Field Airport.

The pilot stated he was performing high speed taxi tests on runway 27 in order to familiarize himself with the aircraft, and the airplane "suddenly became airborne..." and started to crab to the left. He aligned the longitudinal axis of the airplane to the runway but with insufficient runway remaining to land, elected to climb and return for landing. He performed 1 circuit to familiarize himself with the handling characteristics of the airplane before attempting a cross-wind landing, and while turning on the downwind leg during the second circuit, he reduced power and "...immediately noticed a loss of altitude." He applied full throttle but noted that from 3/4 to full throttle, there was no increase in engine rpm. He attempted to turn left and fly under observed powerlines but "the aircraft struck the lower guide wire which sheared the prop." The airplane then impacted the ground. He further reported the airplane did not stall.

Postaccident examination of the airplane and accident site by a Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness inspector revealed the airplane came to rest in brush in a nose-low attitude with the empennage elevated. The right wing was separated from the fuselage but in close proximity to the wreckage. The wooden propeller blades were "sheared and splinted off." No determination was made as to the reported loss of engine power.