Monday, June 19, 2017

Revolution RAI6, N251CW: Accident occurred June 18, 2017 at Williston Municipal Airport (X60), Levy County, Florida

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

Analysis 

The pilot, who was on the controls in the high-performance, experimental, amateur-built airplane, reported that he and a check pilot, who was familiar with the airplane and required by the insurance company, were taking off from a grass airstrip for a planned cross-country flight.

According to the check pilot, before takeoff, he advised the pilot to "begin his rotation to takeoff attitude a few knots before the normal takeoff speed of approximately 65 knots and then let the airplane lift off smoothly when it was ready to fly."

During the takeoff roll, the pilot initiated the "rotation" as instructed, but the nose pitched up too high, and the airplane drifted to the left side of the runway. The airplane exited the left side of the runway, struck the ground, and came to rest upright facing the opposite direction of the takeoff. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing spar and the lower part of the composite fuselage.

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

Probable Cause and Findings

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be:
The pilot's failure to maintain the airplane's pitch control during rotation and his subsequent loss of directional control. 

Findings

Aircraft
Pitch control - Not attained/maintained (Cause)
Directional control - Not attained/maintained (Cause)

Personnel issues
Aircraft control - Pilot (Cause)

Additional Participating Entity:
 Federal Aviation Administration / Flight Standards District Office; Tampa, Florida

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

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

http://registry.faa.gov/N251CW


NTSB Identification: GAA17CA350
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Sunday, June 18, 2017 in Williston, FL
Aircraft: WARD CHRISTOPHER BARRY RAI 6, registration: N251CW
Injuries: 2 Uninjured.

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 pilot, who was on the controls in the high-performance, experimental amateur built airplane, reported that he and a check pilot that was familiar with the airplane and required by the insurance company, were taking off from a grass airstrip for a planned cross-country flight.

According to the check pilot, before takeoff he advised the pilot "begin his rotation to takeoff attitude a few knots before the normal takeoff speed of approximately 65 knots and then let the airplane lift off smoothly when it was ready to fly." 

During the takeoff roll, the pilot initiated the "rotation" as instructed, but the nose pitched up too high and the airplane drifted to the left side of the runway. The airplane exited the left side of the runway, struck the ground and came to rest upright and facing the opposite direction of the takeoff. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right-wing spar and the lower part of the composite fuselage.

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

1 comment:

  1. Would it not be imperative to wait until an indicated 65 knots before beginning rotation as advised by the manufacturer of the aircraft? Not "hold back and wait till she's ready to fly?" That in my humble opinion is inviting a stall, dipping the wing to the left and impacting the ground, possibly.....In my opinion the instructor owes the pilot an aircraft, an apology, and to pay the increased insurance premiums for the next five years.

    ReplyDelete