Jeff -

 

Do the results change appreciably if we subtract accidents that happened during the initial 25 hr or 40 hr flyoff period?  I would expect a greater accident rate during that period.  If we are to compare apples to apples, we should compare the accient rate once the homebuilt is "complete", i.e., completed it's test period.

 

Moving on, what are the most significant causes of accidents?  I had thought it was something like 25-40% due to fuel issues, 25% due to other engine stoppages, 25% due to pilot error (continued flight into IMC, stall/spin, and so forth -- although one could argue that stall/spin may also be related to the aircraft, if the experimental aircraft has unusual stall characteristics).  These numbers are fuzzy recollections only.  I think you would have a greater knowledge than I do in this area.

 

What I'm looking for here is "Focus on this first" items as it pertains to an aircraft still under construction, or being inspected at annual.  For example, I doubt that failure of a retractable gear to extend causes many fatalities, although it is never good.

 

Thanks.

 

- Rob Wolf