# Accident 20150726013039A: Evektor-Aerotechnik As SPORTSTAR, Eufaula, AL, July 26, 2015

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 26, 2015, 09:15 local time
- Place: Eufaula, AL
- Airport: Weedon Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 31.9503° N, 85.1292° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.9503&lon=-85.1292&mi=10
- Aircraft: N804EV, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N804EV-2018-03-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Evektor-Aerotechnik SPORTSTAR (registry code 0600012, https://openairdocs.org/model/evektor-aerotechnik-sportstar) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 912ULS series (registry code 55572, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: EVEKTOR-AEROTECHNIK AS SPORTSTAR
- Reported engine: ROTAX 912ULS
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Sport pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 385 total, 245 in this make and model, 7 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB GAA15CA198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA198) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150726013039A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

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.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB GAA15CA198](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA198), Jul 26, 2015: Evektor-Aerotechnik Sportstar (N804EV), Eufaula, AL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft 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. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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