Amateur-built RENEGADE SPIRIT accident near Brunswick, Georgia, December 13, 2014

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The private pilot had owned the experimental amateur-built airplane for about 3 years but had never flown it. He had performed several hours of taxi and ground tests while troubleshooting the operation of the engine that he had installed in the airplane. On the day of the accident, the pilot told an acquaintance that he had been having trouble with the airplane's brakes and that the engine was idling too high. After adjusting the carburetor, engine operation seemed to have improved, and the pilot said that he might try flying the airplane. The acquaintance cautioned the pilot against doing so given the condition of the brakes and inconsistent engine operation; however, the pilot proceeded to the runway and departed. Two witnesses near the accident site saw the airplane in a left bank as though the pilot was attempting to return to the runway. One of the witnesses, who was a pilot, heard the engine lose power and saw the airplane descend in a manner consistent with an aerodynamic stall. Postaccident examination revealed that all flight controls were continuous from the cockpit to their respective control surfaces. The fuel lines to the engine were unobstructed. Examination of the engine revealed continuity throughout and established compression on all cylinders; however, no further examination of the engine or its accessories was performed, and the reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined. The airplane's descent and impact attitude were consistent with a loss of control due to an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall following a loss of engine power.

The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.