Thursday, May 11, 2017

Unregistered Aeros 2: Accident occurred October 29, 2016 at Calhoun County Airport (F95), Blountstown, Calhoun County, Florida

Aviation Accident Final Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

Additional Participating Entity:
Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Alabama/ Northwest Florida FSDO; Vestavia Hills, Alabama

Investigation Docket - National Transportation Safety Board: https://dms.ntsb.gov/pubdms

Aviation Accident Factual Report - National Transportation Safety Board: https://app.ntsb.gov/pdf

NTSB Identification: GAA17CA198
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, October 29, 2016 in Blountstown, FL
Probable Cause Approval Date: 06/20/2017
Aircraft: AEROS 2, registration: NONE
Injuries: 1 Serious.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

The noncertificated pilot of the weight-shift-controlled trike reported that, during the takeoff, he was “fighting the wing.” He added that the aircraft was about 30 ft above the ground when he “pulled on the control bar,” the right wing rose, and the left wing dipped down. The aircraft subsequently impacted terrain in a left-wing-down attitude to the left of the runway. 

The center fuselage spar and wing sustained substantial damage.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the aircraft that would have precluded normal operation.

The pilot added that the accident flight was his first flight in the unregistered trike and that he had received no flight training before the accident flight. He reported that when he purchased the weight-shift-controlled trike, the bill of sale indicated that the aircraft was an “ultralight.”

According to the trike’s operating manual, the aircraft specifications exceeded the maximum takeoff weight, fuel capacity, and seat limitations stated in 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 103 for ultralight aircraft. 

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The noncertificated pilot's decision to fly the weight-shift-controlled aircraft without having received training in the aircraft type, which resulted in his loss of aircraft control shortly after takeoff.

The noncertificated pilot of a weight-shift controlled trike reported that during the takeoff he was "fighting the wing." He added that the aircraft was about 30 feet above ground, when he "pulled on the control bar," the right wing rose, and the left wing dipped down. The aircraft subsequently impacted the terrain in a left wing down attitude to the left of the runway.

The center fuselage spar and wing sustained substantial damage.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the aircraft that would have precluded normal operation.

The pilot added that the accident flight was his first flight in the unregistered trike. He added that he possessed no pilot certificate and had received no flight training prior to the accident flight. He reported that when he purchased the weight-shift controlled trike, the bill of sale indicated that the aircraft was an "ultralight."

According to the trike's operating manual, the aircraft specifications exceeded the maximum takeoff weight, fuel capacity, and seat limitations stated in 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 103 for ultralight aircraft.

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