N72DX

On June 23, 2021, at 1015 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built SD-1 Minisport airplane, N72DX, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Freeman Swank Farms Airport (0OH5), Butler, Ohio. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

A line of trees paralleled the runway on the southwest side of the runway, and a cornfield was on the northeast side. As the pilot taxied to the end of runway 13, he noted a significant crosswind from over the tree line. After a normal runup, he increased the engine to full power. Immediately after the airplane lifted off the ground it drifted to the right over the cornfield. The airplane “seemed to have too little power to climb” and it stalled, touching down in the field. The left main landing gear separated, and the airplane spun to a stop. The airplane’s left-wing spar was substantially damaged.

The fuel tank remained intact and about 7-8 gallons remained inside. The spark plugs were removed from the engine and were consistent with normal operations. The engine rotated without binding, and thumb compression was established on all cylinders. A boroscope was used to examine the inside of the cylinders; the piston heads and cylinder walls exhibited normal operating wear signatures. The pressure vacuum line exhibited a crack near where it connects to the engine. The crack was not visible until the protective sleeve was removed from the line.

The nearest weather reporting facility was located about 14 miles north of the accident airport. At 0952, wind was reported from 220° at 6 knots. At 1100, the National Weather Service Surface Analysis Chart depicted southwest winds at 5 to 10 knots.