Grants Pass Airport: Grants Pass, Oregon

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The passenger reported that the experimental amateur-built airplane was in cruise flight about 12 miles from the airport when a bird impacted the propeller, and the airplane started shaking and vibrating violently. The flight returned to the airport, and the pilot entered the traffic pattern for landing. The airplane was high and fast on final for runway 30, and when it was about 1/2 to 2/3 of the way down the runway, the pilot decided to go around. When the throttle was advanced, the engine ran rough and did not produce power. During the go around attempt, the airplane entered a stall and subsequently impacted terrain about 500 feet beyond the departure end of the runway. Examination of the wreckage revealed that one blade of the experimental wooden propeller was broken off at the hub, and the other blade was broken off at approximately midspan. Wood fragments identified as being from a propeller blade were found at the accident site. Laboratory
examination of the remaining portion of the propeller and the recovered blade fragments indicated the fragments were from the blade that was broken off at the hub, and this blade likely fractured as a result of ground impact. The fracture features found on the blade that separated near midspan were consistent with a traumatic event such as an in-flight bird strike. No obvious signs of bird residue were noted on the propeller, but the loss of the outboard portion of the blade prevented examination of this part of the propeller.
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During a high speed taxi test the airplane became airborne, subsequently veering too far to the left and too far down the runway to allow the pilot to land. The pilot added full power and initiated a go-around, intending to make left hand traffic back to the runway. While in the pattern and observing and excessive EGT, the pilot reduced power, but in doing so he was unable to complete the turn back to the airport. The pilot elected to over fly the end of the runway and make a right turn back to the airport, but during the right turn he noticed a loss of altitude. The pilot then added full power, but as the engine was not responsive he chose to land in a field south of the runway. During the emergency landing the airplane impacted power lines, coming to rest upright in a parking lot adjacent to the airport.