N13VTVelocity V-TWIN · 2020

On February 16, 2021, about 0917 central standard time, an experimental, Velocity Vtwin airplane, N13VT, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Janesville, Wisconsin. Both pilots sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 ferry flight.

The flight was destined for Sebastian, Florida, for maintenance to be performed on the landing gear system and was operated in accordance with a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Special Flight Permit. While standard limitations of the permit stipulated that occupancy was “limited to the pilot, essential crew required to operate the aircraft and its equipment and personal baggage,” additional limitations were added which stated, “gear to remain down during flight, co-pilot authorized,” even though the airplane only required one flight crewmember.

The pilots departed Appleton International Airport (ATW), Appleton, Wisconsin, about 0634, destined for Southern Wisconsin Regional Airport (JVL), Janesville, Wisconsin, where they landed about 0715. Fuel records obtained from the fixed base operator at JVL indicated that the airplane was to be topped off with 100 low lead (100LL) aviation fuel; the receipt reflected that the airplane was serviced with 53.5 gallons of 100LL. The airplane subsequently departed JVL about 0912.

According to archived air traffic control recordings, shortly after takeoff, the right seat pilot stated that they would like to circle back and land runway 32 and “work through some engine issues.” The controller acknowledged the request, asked the pilot to report turning onto final for runway 32, and asked if any assistance was required. The pilot replied “no sir, we should be fine.” No further radio communications were recorded from the accident airplane.

The airplane was equipped with two Garmin G3X displays that were capable of recording data on internal nonvolatile memory chips. According to the airplane manufacturer, the primary flight display (PFD) would record left engine data and the multifunction display (MFD) would record right engine data. Engine data was recovered from the MFD, however, the only recoverable data from the PFD was GPS data.

Around 0912:15, data showed right engine rpm decrease from around 2,600 to 2,100 rpm. Around this time, airspeed began to increase to a maximum of around 156 knots and altitude to a maximum of around 2,850 ft. (Figure 1) During this interval, right engine rpm fluctuated above 2,100. The airplane appeared to stop its climb shortly thereafter, around 0913:25. The airplane continued around 2,800 ft until about 0914:00, when the rpm began to show a decrease. By 0914:10, the rpm had reached zero. The airplane continued to descend until the end of the recorded data. Indicated airspeed began fluctuating, but showed a decreasing trend for the remainder of the recording.

The tower controller on duty saw the airplane south of the airport in a turn consistent with a modified base-to-final just before impact. He stated that when the airplane was just beyond the trees, he saw it begin to circle left. About halfway through the circle, the bank angle increased and he then lost sight of the airplane behind trees.

Figure 1: Position, Altitude and Airspeed for the Accident Flight

A review of the right seat pilot’s logbook revealed that he had received training in the accident airplane in September 2020. Along with the flight instructor’s signature was the comment, “Very nice job! Velocity Twin proficient.”

The airplane impacted trees and came to rest inverted in a 3-ft-deep tributary of the Rock River about 1 mile south of JVL and sustained substantial damage to both wings, both canards, and the fuselage. Both fuel tanks were breached and a strong odor consistent with 100LL aviation fuel was present at the accident site.

When the airplane was removed from the water, both propellers appeared in the “feathered” position. The throttle, propeller, and mixture controls for the left engine were found in a further aft position than the right engine controls. The left main landing gear door was attached to the airplane and the right main landing gear door was not located. One propeller blade from the right engine, found at the base of a tree that was the initial point of impact, contained impact damage to the metal leading edge consistent with screw or bolt threads. The remaining two propeller blades from the right engine were not located.

Examination of the engines revealed no evidence of preaccident mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. The oil pressure sending units were removed from the airframe and examined. The right oil pressure sending unit and wiring harness appeared unremarkable. The left oil pressure sending unit wiring harness exhibited damage to the red wire, which had separated the wire into two pieces. Visible cuts had penetrated the insulation of the green and black wires. This damage was not consistent with impact damage.

Testing of the left and right oil pressure sending units was accomplished on an exemplar Velocity Vtwin utilizing the left engine’s oil system.

The left oil pressure sensor was tested first by attaching a surrogate wiring harness to it in place of the damaged one. The sensor was then installed in the mounting position on the left engine firewall. After starting the engine, the sensor was able to detect the left engine’s oil pressure. The right oil pressure sensor was tested using its original (as-found) wiring harness. It was then installed in the mounting position on the left engine firewall. After starting the engine, the sensor was able to detect the left engine’s oil pressure.

According to Velocity, if the Garmin G3X failed to receive data from the sender unit, a red “X” would appear over the oil pressure indication on the display.

Toxicology testing of specimens from the left seat pilot performed by the FAA’s Forensic Sciences Laboratory identified bupropion (741 ng/ml) and its metabolite, hydroxybuproprion, as well as amphetamine (58 ng/ml) in femoral blood. These three substances were also identified in urine.

Bupropion is an antidepressant used to treat depression and help patients quit smoking, often marketed with the names Wellbutrin and Zyban. It carries two warnings: 1) a dose-dependent risk of seizures; and 2) may impair mental and/or physical ability required for the performance of potentially hazardous tasks (e.g., driving, operating heavy machinery).

Amphetamine is a Schedule II controlled substance that stimulates the central nervous system available by prescription for the treatment of attention deficit disorder and narcolepsy. It carries a boxed warning about its potential for abuse and has warnings about an increased risk of sudden death and the potential for mental health and behavioral changes. After a single 30 mg oral dose, early blood levels averaged 111 ng/ml and average blood levels in adults using the long acting prescription orally for a week were about 65 ng/ml. Amphetamine is also a drug of abuse. Those abusing amphetamine typically have levels greater than 200 ng/ml and may have levels above 2000 ng/ml.

A vehicle performance study was completed by the National Transportation Safety Board based largely on data from two Garmin G3X displays that were recovered in the wreckage, one configured as a PFD and one as an MFD, in addition to ADS-B data.

Rate-of-climb data from the MFD showed a significant decrease in climb rate shortly after the right seat pilot reported an engine concern. The rate-of-climb then increased about the time the MFD recorded a decrease in indicated airspeed, before decreasing to about zero climb rate. When the rate-of-climb decreased, the indicated airspeed increased to about 156 knots (kts), which was 16 kts above the maximum landing gear extended (VLE) speed.

Right engine data was recovered from the Garmin G3X MFD unit. The data were consistent with an engine shutdown as determined by a decrease in fuel flow and exhaust gas temperature. At that time, a descent began than continued until impact. No data were stored for the left engine.

MFD data indicated that the previous flight was operated well above the VLE of 140 kts calibrated airspeed (KCAS) and the landing gear operation speed, VLo, of 120 KCAS, despite the ferry permit limitation. In addition, the recorded fuel flow was close to that for an engine at 75% cruise power as per the Pilot’s Operating Handbook (POH).