NTSB Identification: FTW04LA222
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, August 27, 2004 in Houston, TX
Aircraft: Lancair 320, registration: N30KR
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain
errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final
report has been completed.

On August 27, 2004, approximately 1530 central daylight time, an
amateur-built Lancair 320 single-engine airplane, N30KR, registered and
operated by a private individual, sustained substantial damage following
a loss of control during takeoff from the Houston Southwest Airport
(AXH) near Houston, Texas. The commercial pilot and his passenger were
not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight
plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91
personal flight. The cross-country flight was destined for the Southeast
Texas Regional Airport near Beaumont, Texas.

During a telephone interview conducted by a representative of the
National Transportation Safety Board, the 1,070-hour commercial pilot
reported that as the airplane became airborne, he experienced a "very
strong crosswind and not enough rudder authority" at which time he lost
control of the airplane. Subsequently, the airplane impacted the left
side of the runway and came to rest upright.

Examination of the airplane by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
inspector, who responded to the site of the accident, revealed that the
nose wheel was folded aft under the engine, and both wings sustained
structural damage. The engine firewall was bent.

At 1453, the automated weather observing system at the Sugar land
Regional Airport, located approximately 11 nautical miles northwest of
AXH reported wind from 140 degrees at 9 knots, visibility 10 statute
mile, scattered clouds at 4,400 feet above ground level (agl),
temperature 91 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 77 degrees Fahrenheit, and
an altimeter setting of 29.97 inches of Mercury.

NTSB Identification: SEA04LA179
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Friday, September 03, 2004 in Chewelah, WA
Aircraft: Hardin Lancair 320, registration: N320MC
Injuries: 2 Minor.
This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain
errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final
report has been completed.

On September 3, 2004, about 1305 Pacific daylight time, an experimental
Hardin Lancair 320, N320MC, registered to and flown by the pilot as a 14
CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced a loss of engine power followed
by an emergency off airport landing to an open field near Chewelah,
Washington. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and
no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The aircraft was
substantially damaged and the private pilot owner and commercial pilot
rated passenger received minor injuries. The flight had been operating
in the local area for about 30 minutes prior to the accident.

During a telephone interview, both the pilot and pilot rated passenger
reported that this was the first flight after the engine had been
rebuilt. The flight was planned to circle the airport environment to
"break-in" the engine. The engine had been operating at 75 % power for
the 30 minutes and readings for engine performance and fuel consumption
were recorded. The pilots then decided to land at the airport they had
been circling. Both pilots reported that just after the landing gear was
lowered, they both smelled a heavy odor of fuel. Shortly thereafter, the
engine began to sputter and subsequently quit. Unable to accomplish a
successful landing at the airport, the pilot elected to perform a forced
landing to an open field. The aircraft's left wingtip contacted the
surface first and the aircraft cartwheeled before coming to rest.