N4272MSpaulding Errol RANS S-7 COURIER

On March 27, 2015 about 1000 mountain daylight time, an experimental amateur-built, Rans S-7 airplane, N4272M, lost directional control while attempting to takeoff from a road 25 miles southeast of Pinedale, Wyoming. The pilot was not injured and the sole passenger sustained serious injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot as a day, visual flight rules, personal flight under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from the Rigby Airport (U56), Rigby, Idaho and was destined to the Rock Springs-Sweetwater County Airport (RKS), Rock Springs, Wyoming.

According to the pilot, after departing U56, he observed the auxiliary fuel transfer pump malfunction. The pilot decided to make a precautionary landing on a road to investigate the malfunction, landing to the east. The pilot reported that the wind during landing was out of the north about 25 to 35 miles per hour. The manufacturer reported that the maximum demonstrated crosswind component for the airplane is 20 knots at 90 degrees. After troubleshooting, the fuel pump was determined to be functional, and the pilot attempted to takeoff from the road to the east with a crosswind. During the takeoff roll, the pilot lost directional control of the airplane and the airplane departed the road; subsequently the right main landing gear collapsed and the right wing impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing spar, the lower right fuselage longeron, and the lower left engine mount. The passenger sustained serious injuries.

The pilot verified that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

The pilot/owner and a pilot rated passenger flew to a local airport for a brief stop, and then continued to another nearby airport where the passenger did a touch-and-go. He had begun a slight right turn during the climb out from the touch-and-go when the engine lost power about 250 feet above ground level (agl). The owner took control, turned back to the left, and tried to land on the end of the runway. He leveled off slightly about 20 feet agl, and then flared for landing. The airplane landed hard on the north side of the runway, and the right wheel broke off. The landing gear dug into the turf; the airplane spun 180 degrees, and the right main landing gear collapsed. The airframe around the tail wheel and rudder sustained substantial damage. The owner indicated that the airplane had a header tank that was the only fuel supply for the engine in addition to the wing tanks that were used to supply the header tank. He used an electric fuel pump to manually transfer fuel from the wing tanks to the header tank. He stated that he usually doesn't let the header tank get less than half full since the fuel pick-up port for the engine driven pump is at the front of the tank. He said that he probably let the fuel level get too low on this flight. During the climb out with the nose up, he surmised that the header tank fuel pick-up unported, resulting in the loss of power.