19981015035519A

(.19) On October 15, 1998, about 1845 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt sonerai ii, N5DZ, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain after takeoff from the Hardin County Airport (I95), Kenton, Ohio. The certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the local personal flight conducted under 14 CFR part 91. In an interview with a federal aviation administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot stated this was his first flight in the tail wheel airplane. Before the flight, the pilot taxied in the airplane several times to determine its ground handling characteristics and to familiarize himself with the "visual perspective." The pilot then departed runway 22, a 4,201 foot asphalt runway. In a written statement, the pilot said the elevator trim was set nose high, and after liftoff, the airplane "stalled back onto the runway." A witness stated: "aircraft started a normal takeoff roll, and lifted off in a normal manner. (The) pilot lowered the nose to gain airspeed then started to climb. At this point the aircraft nosed into the pavement and slid off of the runway into the grass..." Examination of the wreckage by an FAA inspector did not reveal any pre-impact abnormalities of the airframe or engine. A review of the pilot's logbook revealed 90 hours of total flight experience, all in tricycle gear aircraft. (-23) on 15 October, 1998, 1844 local time, experimental amateur built aircraft N5DZ, serial number 223, impacted on runway 22 at the Hardin co. airport (I95) located at Kenton, Ohio. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The pilot, timothy alan abke, received only minor injury while exiting the aircraft. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The following statements from the pilot have been verified by two eye witnesses to the accident. One of the witnesses was the airport manager and the other being the maintenance technician, who had completed the last condition inspection on the subject aircraft. This had been the pilot's first flight in this aircraft. Prior to attempting flight, the pilot had completed several taxi trips up and down the runway. He stated he did this to establish ground handling and visual perspective, while sitting in the aircraft. He continued to say that a takeoff was then initiated. The aircraft became light on the wheels quite early, partially due to the horizontal stab tri being set for nose high attitude. He felt the wheels come off the ground and tried to maintain the aircraft in ground effect. However, once the aircraft was 5 to 10 feet above the runway, all visual reference to the runway was lost due to the aircraft's limited side visibility, related to the low wing design. Mr. Ebke said at this point he remembered looking at the airspeed indicator, which read 45-50 mph and an altitude of about 20 feet, just out of ground effect. At this point the aircraft stalled in a straight and level attitude. After examining the site, it appears the aircraft impacted the edge of runway 22 in a nose low, wing level attitude. Four prop strikes were found prior to the fuselage contacting the runway. At this point the main landing gear folded under the fuselage leaving visible gouges in the runway. The aircraft continued to slide off the runway, coming to rest in the grass nearly 250 feet from the point of impact. The post-crash inspection of the aircraft verified continuity of both engine and prim ary flight controls. The impact caused extensive damage to the forward airframe, engine mount, and landing gear structure. Mr. Abke obtained his private pilot certificate August 8,1998. He had logged a total of 90 hours prior to this accident. His experience included flying a Cessna 150, 152, Ercoupe, and a Piper J3. One month prior to this accident, Mr. Abke had obtained his tailwheel endorsement. Records show no previous accidents/incidents or enforcements against Mr. Abke's certificate number 299589263. Weather was not a factor in this accident. The pilot is scheduled for counseling on November 4, 1998, with the cmh operations safety program manager. (.4) the pilot said he initiated his first takeoff in the tail-wheeled airplane with the elevator trim set at a nose high attitude, and the airplane lifted off the runway early. When the airplane was 5 to 10 feet above the ground, all visual relationship with runway was lost due to the airplane's limited visibility. The pilot further stated that when airplane broke free of ground effect, it stalled and impacted the ground. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal any pre-impact abnormalities of the airframe or engine. A review of the pilot's logbook revealed 90 hours of total flight experience, all in tricycle gear aircraft.