20100926045899A

History of flight:on September 26, 2010, at 1330 hours local time (1730 zulu) an experimental light sport dragon fly-c airplane, registration number N667DF, crashed immediately after takeoff from the private wesmar Aerodrome grass strip at 16067 london road, Orient Ohio. The pilot and passenger sustained only minor injuries and were able to walk away from the crash. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The aircraft is owned by Central Ohio dragon fly club LLC, of hilliard,Ohio. The pilot stated that he conducted two flights earlier in the day, one as a check flight, and one to perform an aero tow of a glider. Both these flights were completed without incident or abnormalities. The pilot stated that he left the "v bridal" attached to the "rudder" post of the aircraft after the tow flight and they had never had any problems with leaving it attached. The accident flight was conducted with a passenger, and after giving the required passenger briefing and pre flight inspection, the pilot taxied the airplane to the southwest end of the strip and made a 180 degree turn to line up on the strip for takeoff into the wind. As the airplane became airborne it entered an un-commanded hard right turn and the pilot attempted to correct with the application of left rudder but the pedals would not move. The pilot applied left aileron and cut power but the airplane continued in a descending right turn until it impacted the ground with the right wheel and right wingtip first, then the nose. After the nose impacted, the airplane continued to spin until the left wing and tail also struck the ground. The airplane came to rest right side up facing approximately 300 degrees. The pilot shut the engine off and assisted the passenger in exiting the airplane. Personnel information:the pilot holds a private pilot license with third class medical certificate. Aircraft information:the aircraft is a dragon fly model c, serial number C-88. Build date 2006.meteorological conditions:at 1335 hours the weather for the closest airport (lck), was as follows: temperature 63.9F, dew point 45.5F, relative humidity 51%, baro 30.05 inhg, visibility 10 miles, winds NE at 8.1 mph, conditions clear. Source national weather service. Aircraft maintenance:last inspection was completed in may, 2010, at 211.6 aircraft hours. On scene observations:on 27 September, inspectors garry mitcham, aaron virgin, chris polsley, and john welsh travelled to the accident scene and arrived at approximately 9:15 am. We met with the pilot of the accident aircraft, Mr. Frank murphy, and privacy data omitted, the owner of wesmar Aerodrome. We conducted an interview of Mr. Murphy and Mr. Jones at that time. We then drove out to the accident scene to inspect the wreckage. The aircraft was found right side up, fully intact but heavily damaged. The nose area rudder pedal assembly was crushed, chards of glass were on the seat, the left wing was bent upward at an angle of approximately 60 degrees, the right wing tip was dented, the left vertical stabilizer leading edge was bent downward, the right main wheel was shattered, the tail wheel assembly was bent and broken. Attached to the top of the vertical stabilizer was a rope of approximately 3/8 diameter and approximately 20 feet long. The rope was entangled with the tail wheel assembly and the rope had a distinct kink in it at a distance that coincided with the horizontal stabilizer leading edge, or elevator trailing edge.