UNREG

On September 19, 2005, at 1807 eastern daylight time, an unregistered amateur built airplane, was substantially damaged during a forced landing near Broadalbin, New York. The certificated private pilot/owner was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight, which departed Amsterdam Airfield (NY87), Fort Johnson, New York, about 1700, and was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, he had departed Fort Johnson and flew for about 30 minutes, when the engine lost power. The pilot performed a forced landing to treetops, which resulted in substantial damage to the airplane.

During an interview with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot described that the airplane weighed about 500 pounds, but possibly could weigh more, and was equipped with an 8-gallon fuel tank. He also stated that the airplane had been flown for about 2 total hours since being built.

According to the FAA inspector, the accident airplane was a two-place bi-plane, was the product of about three sets of airplane plans, and was designed and built by the pilot. The airplane was powered by a four cylinder, four-stroke automobile engine. Examination of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies.

The pilot held a private pilot certificate, with a rating for airplane single engine land, and reported 488 total hours of flight experience.

The weather reported at Schenectady County Airport (SCH), Schenectady, New York, about 20 nautical miles southeast, at 1745, included winds from 330 degrees at 4 knots, clear skies below 12,000 feet, 10 statute miles visibility, temperature 77 degrees Fahrenheit, dewpoint 62 degrees Fahrenheit, and an altimeter setting of 30.15 inches of mercury.