OpenAirDocs.org

20150726013039A

Accident · Substantial damage
Open the Markdown

FAA accident report · Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR · Eufaula, AL · July 26, 2015

FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal

© OpenStreetMap
Date
July 26, 2015 · 09:15 local
Place
Eufaula, AL
Airport
Weedon Field
Phase of flight
Takeoff: Climb Out
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N804EV
NTSB investigation
NTSBGAA15CA198
Reported as
Evektor-Aerotechnik Sportstar
Reported engine
ROTAX 912ULS
People aboard
1
Fatal injuries
0
Other injuries
0
Pilot’s certificate
Sport pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
385 total245 in this make and model7 in the last 90 days
N804EVRegistration cancelled Mar 8, 2018 · Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTARS/N 2006 0804 · Built 2006Airframe modelEvektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAREngine modelRotax 912ULS series4 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

On July 26, 2015 about 0915 central standard time, a Evektor-Aerotechnik Sportstar, N804EV, was substantially damaged after takeoff at Eufaula, Alabama (keuf). The certificated sport pilot was not injured.

According to the pilot he taxied to runway 18 and began his predeparture checklist with canopy partially open for ventilation. When closing the canopy the checklist was blown out by propwash. The engine was then shut down to retrieve the checklist. The pilot reentered the aircraft and started the engine and did not complete the checklist. On takeoff roll the wheels lifted off the ground and the canopy popped up. The pilot reached with his right hand to secure the canopy while releasing the throttle and then the control stick and the aircraft impacted the left tree line.

The aircraft substained substantial damage to both wings, horizontal stabilizer, propeller and engine cowling.

8/13/2015-Airman was counseled on the importance completeing pre-depature checklist before takeoff. AFS-640 concurred with counselling of airman.

As the FAA filed it

ON JULY 26, 2015 ABOUT 0915 CENTRAL STANDARD TIME, A EVEKTOR-AEROTECHNIK SPORTSTAR, N804EV, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AFTER TAKEOFF AT EUFAULA, ALABAMA (KEUF). THE CERTIFICATED SPORT PILOT WAS NOT INJURED.

ACCORDING TO THE PILOT HE TAXIED TO RUNWAY 18 AND BEGAN HIS PREDEPARTURE CHECKLIST WITH CANOPY PARTIALLY OPEN FOR VENTILATION. WHEN CLOSING THE CANOPY THE CHECKLIST WAS BLOWN OUT BY PROPWASH. THE ENGINE WAS THEN SHUT DOWN TO RETRIEVE THE CHECKLIST. THE PILOT REENTERED THE AIRCRAFT AND STARTED THE ENGINE AND DID NOT COMPLETE THE CHECKLIST. ON TAKEOFF ROLL THE WHEELS LIFTED OFF THE GROUND AND THE CANOPY POPPED UP. THE PILOT REACHED WITH HIS RIGHT HAND TO SECURE THE CANOPY WHILE RELEASING THE THROTTLE AND THEN THE CONTROL STICK AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE LEFT TREE LINE.

THE AIRCRAFT SUBSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO BOTH WINGS, HORIZONTAL STABILIZER, PROPELLER AND ENGINE COWLING.

8/13/2015-AIRMAN WAS COUNSELED ON THE IMPORTANCE COMPLETEING PRE-DEPATURE CHECKLIST BEFORE TAKEOFF. AFS-640 CONCURRED WITH COUNSELLING OF AIRMAN.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB GAA15CA198Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal reportEufaula, ALThe pilot's failure to maintain direction control during takeoff, and the pilot's failure to ensure that the canopy of the airplane was secured and locked prior to departure.Jul 26, 2015 · Substantial damage