20010706017929A

(.19) On July 6, 2001, at 1940 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Sonerai ii, N79TG, was substantially damaged during an aborted take-off from a private airstrip in Cortland, Ohio. The certificated airline transport pilot sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR part 91. The pilot purchased the airplane from a private owner, and had it stored at his residence for 2 1/2 years. This was his first flight in the airplane. In a written statement, he said: "last Thursday we took the airplane to the airfield for my initial flight. On Friday we felt the plane was ready so I started the plane out onto the runway. I drove down the runway a few times to get the feel for the plane. I decided to try to take off. As I got about 15 feet up, the plane lost its climb rate. I felt I was not going to be able to clear the tree line at the end of the runway, so I decided to try and land into the brush. As I entered the brush the wing hit a stump and flipped the plane over." An Ohio state highway patrol officer asked the pilot why the airplane lost the climb rate. The pilot responded: "I think it needs a longer runway or a paved runway so more speed can be gained for take-off." The pilot's brother was at the airfield and observed the airplane take-off. In a written statement, he said: "I was standing on the field observing the plane take-off westbound. He seemed to have difficulty climbing and tried to land the plane. While trying to land, he came down too fast and lost control, which caused him to turn to the right. He struck some high grass, which caused the plane to flip." In a telephone conversation, the pilot reported that the 2,500 foot long turf runway was well maintained, dry, and was aligned east and west. The runway sloped downhill at each end. The pilot stated that on the day of the accident he made several taxi runs up and down the runway. When he was ready to take-off, he taxied to the end of the west runway. At the end, he turned the airplane 180 degrees around and simultaneously applied power to overcome the downhill slope and began the take-off roll. Halfway down the runway the tail wheel came off the ground and the airplane became airborne. The pilot said he did not look at the airspeed indicator when the airplane rotated off the runway. Once airborne the airplane would not accelerate, and he noticed that the airspeed indicator read 60 knots. He reported that the manufacturer's recommended airspeed was 75 knots on climb-out. The pilot felt that he would not clear the trees, and elected to abort the take-off. The pilot also reported that the airplane was under the maximum allowable gross weight and the winds were calm. He also reported that the engine was operating normally. A federal aviation administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane on July 9, 2001. According to the inspector, the fuselage exhibited gashes on the bottom and sides of the cockpit, both main gears were buckled and twisted, and the right wing tip and leading edge had holes through the skin. The wooden propeller was also found severed. The wind at youngstown-warren regional airport (yng), youngstown, Ohio, at 1951, was reported from 330 degrees at 4 knots. The pilot reported a total of about 2,600 hours, of which 500-600 were in tail wheeled aircraft. He also reported that he had never flown this make and model airplane before, and it was the first experimental airplane he had owned. (-23) pilot aborted takeoff, veered off runway, hit a tree stump and flipped over.