TacAero and Kevin Sutterfield are trying to dodge blame for crashing SW-51 N351MT at Gillespie Airport in January. But the manufacturer of the aircraft kit, ScaleWings, has analyzed the flight data from the aircraft’s Garmin Avionics system. ScaleWings sent its report to the NTSB, so it will likely end up in the public docket, eventually. You can read the analysis below.
From the data, there’s little doubt that Sutterfield attempted to fly the aircraft without first confirming that takeoff power was available and then, when it turned out that it wasn’t, he attempted to take off anyway. Once in the air, he allowed the stricken aircraft to get too slow, then crashed it, despite that there was ample runway remaining to set the aircraft back down safely.
Sutterfield explained the reason why he took off without full power was that he couldn’t see engine gauges during the takeoff roll without moving his head. ScaleWings debunked that excuse as well.